China on Tuesday called on the United States to heed the voices of businesses to foster a stable, predictable environment for normal trade and investment activities, said the Ministry of Commerce.

The remarks came in response to media reports that US aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co had flown back three 737 MAX jets originally intended for Chinese airlines, indicating a suspension in aircraft deliveries to China.

China has noted these reports. China and the US have maintained long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation in the civil aviation sector, which has played an important role in promoting bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges, said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce in a statement.

However, the US practice of raising tariffs as a weapon has severely impacted the stability of global industrial and supply chains, disrupted the international air transport market and made it difficult for many companies to carry out normal trade and investment activities, said the commerce official, adding both Chinese airlines and US aircraft manufacturer Boeing have been deeply affected.

China remains committed to supporting normal commercial cooperation between Chinese and US companies, said the statement.