AEROSPACE

McDonnell Douglas, China May Alter Jet Deal: The company could announce as early as today a change in a production agreement with China that could be worth as much as $1.4 billion. McDonnell Douglas Corp., the world’s No. 3 commercial jet maker, confirmed that it has been negotiating with China to amend a 2-year-old co-production agreement for 40 aircraft. It would not confirm whether an announcement is scheduled during U.S. Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown’s current trade mission to China. The changes concern the mix of MD-80 and MD-90 twin jets to be built for China, 20 each under the current agreement, and also where they’ll be built and a delivery schedule, a company spokesman said.