Beijing calls on Washington to cancel unilateral duties after Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s authority, warning of trade war risks.

BEIJING: China has urged the United States to cancel its unilateral tariff measures. The call follows a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down President Donald Trump’s authority to impose such levies.

China’s commerce ministry issued the statement on Monday. It said it was conducting a comprehensive assessment of the ruling’s impact on global trade.

“There are no winners in a trade war and that protectionism leads nowhere,” the ministry stated. It called on Washington to lift the tariffs imposed on its trading partners.

The Supreme Court ruled six to three on Friday that Trump lacked authority under a 1977 law. This decision upended a key pillar of his trade policy that has roiled global markets.

Trump reacted by announcing a new 15% global duty on imports. The tariffs are due to take effect on Tuesday and are expected to last 150 days.

China’s foreign ministry said it was paying close attention to potential US moves. It warned that Washington was planning alternative measures like trade investigations to maintain increased tariffs.

“China will continue to pay close attention to this and resolutely safeguard China’s interests,” the ministry added. The warning comes weeks ahead of Trump’s planned visit to China.

The trip would be the US leader’s first to the country in his second term. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said an April meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping is “not to fight about trade.”

The court ruling marked a major political setback for Trump. It was a stunning rebuke from a judicial body that has largely sided with him since his return to office.

Greer told US media that trade deals with China and the European Union will remain in force. He made the comments on Sunday following the landmark decision.

Several other countries have said they are studying the Supreme Court ruling. They are also examining Trump’s subsequent tariff announcements.

US trade officials threatened in December to impose tariffs on China’s semiconductor industry. They cited Beijing’s “unreasonable” practices, though the duties will be delayed until June 2027.

Beijing firmly opposed that move at the time. It accused Washington of abusing tariffs to unreasonably suppress Chinese industries.

 The Sun Malaysia