Is China’s Xi set to host a weakened Trump after US Supreme Court tariffs setback?
February 21, 2026 at 12:03 PM
By Frank Chen,Cao Jiaxuan
US President Donald Trump may find himself wielding less leverage when he heads to China in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his signature tariff policy, Chinese analysts and exporters say.
They said the court’s decision could weaken Trump’s negotiating position with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while potentially offering short-term good news for US-linked exporters in China.
The White House confirmed Trump’s China visit on Friday, just as the US Supreme Court ruled the...
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US President Donald Trump may find himself wielding less leverage when he heads to China in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his sig US President Donald Trump may find himself wielding less leverage when he heads to China in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his sig Monitor developments in Is for further updates.
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US President Donald Trump may find himself wielding less leverage when he heads to China in the wake
US President Donald Trump may find himself wielding less leverage when he heads to China in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his signature tariff policy, Chinese analysts and exporters say.
They said the court’s decision could weaken Trump’s negotiating position with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while potentially offering short-term good news for US-linked exporters in China.
The White House confirmed Trump’s China visit on Friday, just as the US Supreme Court ruled the...
AdvertisementUS-China relationsChinaDiplomacyIs China’s Xi set to host a weakened Trump after US Supreme Court tariffs setback?The big question is whether a weaker hand for US president at coming Beijing summit will give any advantage to ChinaReading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPFrank Chenin ShanghaiandCao Jiaxuanin BeijingPublished: 8:03pm, 21 Feb 2026Updated: 8:05pm, 21 Feb 2026US President Donald Trump may find himself wielding less leverage when he heads to China in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned his signature tariff policy, Chinese analysts and exporters say.They said the court’s decision could weaken Trump’s negotiating position with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while potentially offering short-term good news for US-linked exporters in China.The White House confirmed Trump’s China visit on Friday, just as the US Supreme Court ruled the president’s tariffs illegal in a major blow to his trade agenda ahead of the high-stakes summit in Beijing.AdvertisementThe March 31 to April 2 trip will be Trump’s first visit to China since returning to power – his previous one was in November 2017 during his first term. Xi is expected to visit America later this year.Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing, said “the ruling of the Supreme Court weakened, of course, Trump’s trade leverage vis-a-vis the Chinese side”.AdvertisementHowever, he stressed that this did not automatically translate into greater Chinese advantage at the coming summit. Given Trump’s transactional approach, Beijing would need both the capacity and willingness to make some concessions that Trump could present as a “success story”, Shi said.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x
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