China urges US to lift tariffs, warns of harm to trade

China is conducting a “full assessment” of the US Supreme Court’s recent ruling on tariffs and has urged Washington to lift “unilateral tariff measures,” warning that conflict between the two economic powers is “harmful.”

The comments from China’s Commerce Ministry follow a landmark decision by the US high court that struck down many of the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, including some targeting China, Reuters reports.

“US unilateral tariffs ... violate international trade rules and US domestic law, and are not in the interests of any party,” the ministry said. “Cooperation between China and the United States is beneficial to both sides, but fighting is harmful.”

The ruling came amid renewed trade tensions. Within hours, Trump announced plans to impose a new 10% duty on US imports from all countries starting February 24, later raising it to 15% in a move that reportedly surprised some of his own officials.

Trump’s planned levies rely on Section 122, an untested law allowing tariffs up to 15% but requiring congressional approval to extend them after 150 days. No president has previously invoked the measure, and its use could trigger further legal challenges.

“China will continue to pay close attention to this and firmly safeguard its interests,” the Commerce Ministry added.

Experts in China criticized the US approach as politically motivated. Gao Lingyun, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the state-run Global Times that the decisions were “highly arbitrary” and being wielded as a “political weapon.” He added, “Tariff policy should be based on rigorous assessment, not political preference.”

The Supreme Court ruling invalidated a number of tariffs previously imposed on Asian export powerhouses, including China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan—key players in global technology supply chains, particularly semiconductors.

South Korea said it would continue consultations with the US to maintain a “balance of interests” and emphasized cooperation between public and private sectors to protect the export competitiveness of Korean companies. “The public and private sector need to work together to secure Korean companies’ export competitiveness and diversify their markets,” Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said.

India, meanwhile, delayed plans to send a trade delegation to Washington to finalize an interim trade deal, citing fresh tariff uncertainty from the US. The deal, which would cut US tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, included commitments by India to purchase $500 billion in US goods over five years, covering energy, aircraft and parts, precious metals, and technology products.

In Europe, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned that companies require predictability, not legal battles. Speaking on CBS’ Face the Nation, she said, “To sort of shake it up again is going to bring about disruptions.” Lagarde stressed that any new US tariff plans must be clearly defined to avoid further legal challenges and comply with the US Constitution.

By Vafa Guliyeva