Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump-Era Tariffs, Commerce Ministry Responds
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal, a decision impacting reciprocal tariffs, fentanyl tariffs, and related measures. The ruling, announced on February 20, 2026, has prompted a response from China’s Ministry of Commerce, which reiterated its opposition to unilateral tariff increases.
Supreme Court Ruling Details
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the tariffs, affirming lower court rulings that challenged the President’s authority to impose broad tariffs under IEEPA . The court’s decision resolves challenges brought by importers but does not immediately address the process for obtaining refunds for duties already paid .
Ministry of Commerce Response
Responding to inquiries on February 23, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce stated that the ministry had taken note of the Supreme Court’s ruling and was conducting a comprehensive assessment of its content and impact. The spokesperson emphasized China’s consistent opposition to unilateral tariff increases, stating, “There are no winners in trade wars and there is no way out for protectionism.”
The Ministry further asserted that the U.S.’s reciprocal tariffs, fentanyl tariffs, and other unilateral measures violate both international economic and trade rules and U.S. Domestic law, and are not in the interests of all parties. They reiterated that cooperation benefits both China and the United States, while confrontation leads to losses.
Background on the Tariffs
In April 2025, President Trump announced a fresh global tariff regime, leading to lawsuits from affected importers and state attorneys general challenging his authority under IEEPA . The tariffs included “reciprocal” tariffs and those targeting fentanyl-related products.
The U.S. Similarly lowered the fentanyl-related tariff on products from China from 20% to 10%, effective November 10, 2025, following a meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping .
Implications and Future Outlook
The Supreme Court’s decision eliminates the entire IEEPA tariff framework, ordering U.S. Customs and Border Protection to refund collected tariffs and cease collecting new duties . Importers may seek to recover refunds for entries made since March 2025.
China’s Ministry of Commerce urged the United States to cancel the unilateral tariff measures and stated it would closely monitor potential alternative measures, such as trade investigations, to safeguard its interests. The legality of other tariffs remains under consideration.