Airbus to Double Production in China as It Moves Ahead With New Orders

The deal “underpins the positive recovery momentum and prosperous outlook for the Chinese aviation market,” Mr. Faury said in a statement, adding that the company was “privileged to remain a partner of choice in shaping the future of civil aviation in China.”

Europe has been under pressure from the Biden administration to isolate Beijing by imposing more trade curbs on sensitive technologies, such as semiconductors that could have military uses. Talk of economic decoupling is rife, and Apple has shifted some production to India and Vietnam, although most of its revenue still comes from Chinese-made products.

Ms. von der Leyen said in a speech ahead of the trip that E.U. countries needed to reduce risk and “rebalance” economic ties with China. But other European leaders, and Mr. Macron in particular, have sought to maintain strong economic links despite China’s increasing assertiveness and support for Russia.

Mr. Macron, who arrived in China on Wednesday, has spent the bulk of the visit trying to carve out a distinct role for Europe that avoids confrontation, while also seeking to provide a place for China in ending the war in Ukraine. Around 50 French business leaders accompanied Mr. Macron in an effort to maintain commercial links.

The Airbus deal, while more modest than expected, nonetheless underscored the continued importance of China as a major trading partner to Europe, one that Mr. Macron is reluctant to give up.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/business/airbus-china-double-production.html