U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft, describing the deal as a commitment reached during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“It was sort of like a statement but I think it was a commitment,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News, according to excerpts released by the broadcaster.
Trump said the order involved “200 big ones,” adding that the deal would support U.S. jobs.
Shares of Boeing fell after the remarks were broadcast, and were down about 4% shortly after 1700 GMT.
U.S. media reports said China was considering an order of about 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, in addition to around 100 wide-body jets including the 787 Dreamliner and 777 models.
Boeing Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg was part of the U.S. delegation attending the Beijing summit.
Ortberg told analysts last month he remained hopeful of a China order, saying it depended entirely on U.S.-China relations and ongoing negotiations.
Boeing’s last major order from China came in 2017 during Trump’s first presidential term, when Beijing agreed to purchase 300 aircraft valued at an estimated $37 billion.