China’s commerce ministry says it is assessing the Supreme Court tariff ruling and urges the US to lift unilateral tariffs, arguing measures like reciprocal and fentanyl tariffs violate trade rules and US law.
In its statement, the ministry argued that US unilateral actions, including reciprocal-style tariffs and “fentanyl” tariffs, violate international trade rules as well as US domestic law, and are not in the interests of any party. It said China would “firmly defend” its interests as it evaluates how the court’s ruling and the White House’s response may affect trade ties.
The comments come as the US administration moves to rebuild tariff leverage using alternative authorities after the Supreme Court curtailed the president’s ability to impose broad tariffs under emergency powers.
For Beijing, the message is twofold: first, to frame the US move as legally and procedurally flawed; and second, to push for a rollback of unilateral measures while signalling readiness to retaliate or defend core interests if pressure persists. The ministry’s language also sets a marker ahead of a key political window, with Trump expected to travel to China from March 31 to April 2 for high-level talks, a timeframe that effectively makes early April a deadline for both sides to clarify negotiating positions
