US tariff ruling points to steadier US–China ties ahead of April summit: analysts

South China Morning Post · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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As US President Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing from March 31 to April 2, analysts say recent US policy reversals, including a Supreme Court of the United States ruling striking down broad tariffs, have shifted trade tensions into a phase of cautious stability rather than escalation.The legal setback has strengthened China’s negotiating position, bolstered by lowered effective tariffs, its leverage over critical minerals like rare earths, and a more emboldened approach to countermeasures.With both sides expressing long-term confidence in their economic models and the US pivoting towards maintaining stability, including reliable shipments of key materials, the summit is widely expected to yield tame outcomes focused on extending a fragile truce rather than major concessions.Sara Schuman, former senior trade representative for China at the Office of the US Trade Representative under Presidents Biden and Trump, pointed to the tariff levelling as a core issue.China’s effective rate has fallen to around 15 per cent from about 20 per cent following last year’s Busan meeting, putting it on par with other partners.08:58What are rare earths, and why is China’s dominance facing global pushbackWhat are rare earths, and why is China’s dominance facing global pushback“Now basically China’s on a more level playing field with other trading partners. That’s going to create concern among the administration, so I would not be surprised to see if they try to find a way to get China back up to a higher level so that it differentiates from some of the other major trading partners,” Schuman said at the annual Washington International Trade Association conference on Monday.