Monday, February 23, 2026, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a tough official statement in response to the United States Supreme Court’s recent ruling that Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed last year were illegal.
Chinese authorities are conducting a “full assessment” of the legal ruling, while calling on Washington to reverse “unilateral tariff measures” that they believe violate international trade rules and harm both economies, The Business Standard noted.
Beijing emphasizes damage to global trade
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Feb. 20 ruling found many tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) illegal.
The court ruled that such measures were an abuse of power because they were inconsistent with existing U.S. law and international trade norms, which could undermine confidence in the U.S. trading system.
In response, China has initiated a formal analysis of the impact of this court verdict. A statement from China’s Ministry of Commerce emphasized: “The unilateral tariffs by the US … violate international trade rules and U.S. domestic laws and are not in the interests of either party. Cooperation between China and the U.S. is beneficial to both sides, but fighting is harmful.”
Thus, Beijing directly criticizes Washington’s current trade course and advocates the abolition of tariffs imposed in recent years.
In response to the elimination of some of the previous duties, President Donald Trump announced new duties of 15% on imports for all countries, using another law – Section 122, which may also require Congressional approval after 150 days of action.
In this regard, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce emphasized that China will continue to closely monitor the situation and “reliably protect its interests,” including possible responses to any attempts to maintain tariffs through alternative investigative mechanisms and measures, The Business Standard writes.
Global implications: markets, supply chains and strategic risks
These tensions between the US and China are adding uncertainty to international markets and supply chains. Economic experts are already warning that politicized trade policies could lead to significant long-term changes in the global economy.
In Asia and Europe, for example, businesses are calling for more clarity and predictability. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said companies need clear rules and stability to plan investment and expansion, The Star reported.
The Star notes that the implications for manufacturing countries, especially major exporters such as China, South Korea and Taiwan, could be significant: the instability of tariffs and trade barriers affects diversification strategies, encouraging companies to consider alternative markets and supply chains.
Beijing is already considering possible economic risks and prospects for the coming months. The most important event will be the upcoming meeting between U.S. and Chinese leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled to take place between March 31 and April 2, 2026. This meeting is expected to be an opportunity to discuss and potentially reduce trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The U.S. Supreme Court decision could prove to be a key moment in the diplomatic negotiations: on the one hand, it has limited the executive powers of the U.S. president on the issue of tariffs, and on the other hand, it creates new legal and economic obstacles to the implementation of unilateral trade measures, emphasizes The Business Standard.
