The auction of 10 B787-8 aircraft belonging to China Southern Airlines has been suspended, amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

State-backed China Southern announced in October that it was to sell its fleet of 787-8 aircraft as the carrier modernises its fleet with firm orders placed with Boeing, with which it is scheduled to receive 90 planes in the next three years. The airline also has firm orders with Airbus and domestic manufacturer Comac.

READ: AfA sounds alarm over tariff impact on logistics and trade 

However, the tit-for-tat trade war between the U.S and China has lead to tariffs of up to 145% in the present and uncertainty over the trading relationship in the mid to long term. The airline has announced through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange that the sale was halted due to “events impacting the transactions”.

While claims that the Chinese government has told airlines in the country to cancel their aircraft orders remain unconfirmed, it seems that China Southern has decided it will be prudent to hold onto the aircraft a while longer.

Air China and China Eastern, being the other major state-owned carriers also have orders of 45 and 53 orders for Boeing aircraft respectively, with a combined order total valued in billions of dollars.