In an interview with CNBC, Ortberg noted that while Boeing had three airliners ready for delivery in China, two have already been returned to Seattle. This action was taken as the airlines initially ordered the planes but have halted receipt due to the current tariff situation.

This month, China raised its import taxes on American goods to 125 percent, a reaction to US President Donald Trump’s decision to increase tariffs on Chinese-made products to 145 percent. This escalation significantly raises the cost of Boeing’s passenger jets, which are major US exports and typically priced in the tens of millions of dollars.

About 70 per cent of the commercial aircraft the company expects to deliver in 2025 are for international customers, West said.

If tariffs cause countries besides China to retaliate and put off accepting planes, “we would expect to see additional pressure” on Boeing’s cash supply, he said.

“Given our position as a significant US exporter, free trade policy across commercial aerospace remains very important to us,” West said.

Trump’s pursuit of tariffs to counter what he describes as the unfair trade policies of other nations comes as Boeing looked to turn the page on a run of problems, including a panel blowing out of a 737 Max in flight and a labour strike that shut down production last year.

The company saw its revenue and stock value drop sharply.

Ortberg said the first-quarter financial results Boeing reported on Wednesday indicated the company’s recovery plan “is in full swing and showing signs that it’s being effective, albeit early.”

Boeing posted an adjusted loss of 49 cents per share on revenue of $US19.5 billion.