India, April 15 -- In a major escalation of trade tensions between China and the United States, Beijing has instructed its carriers to halt the delivery of aircraft from American aerospace giant Boeing, a report stated on Tuesday.

Beijing also instructed its carriers to halt the purchase of aircraft-related equipment and components from US firms.

The development, first reported by Bloomberg News, follows escalating tensions in the trade conflict between Beijing and the US, which was triggered by Donald Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs.'

Since President Donald Trump came into office in January, the world's two largest economies have been engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war, with the US now levying tariffs of up to 145 per cent on Chinese impo...