US Court Rules Trump Tariffs Illegal

A federal court ruling this week delivered a setback to the Trump administration’s tariff authority as President Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week.

China’s exports rose 14 percent in April, according to data released Saturday, resulting in a robust trade surplus that officials said shows limited impact so far from existing U.S. tariffs on the country’s manufacturing sector. The figures were published days before the planned Trump-Xi summit, which is expected to address trade imbalances and tariff levels.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to visit South Korea next week en route to China. Bessent will arrive in Seoul on Wednesday for a single-day visit focused on economic and financial issues, diplomatic sources said Saturday, according to Yonhap.

During the stop, Bessent is set to meet senior South Korean officials to discuss the foreign exchange market and other mutual economic concerns. The visit follows a planned three-day trip to Japan beginning Monday, where he is expected to hold talks with Japanese officials and the central bank governor.

Top U.S. and Chinese officials have already held preparatory talks in recent days. The court decision on tariffs was handed down this week.

China has maintained strong export performance despite multiple rounds of U.S. tariffs imposed during Trump’s current term. The latest trade data, reported by the Financial Times, reinforces statements from Beijing that its manufacturing base has adapted to the measures.

Bessent’s itinerary reflects the administration’s effort to align allies and partners before the summit. Discussions in Seoul are expected to include a finalized critical minerals framework between South Korea and the United States, according to earlier statements from the treasury secretary. Officials in Seoul have previously expressed concerns about excessive volatility in the Korean won.

South Korean officials shared this view in recent talks with their U.S. counterparts. Outcomes could shape tariff policy, supply chain arrangements and bilateral economic relations for the coming year.

The combination of the court ruling and strong Chinese export numbers sets the backdrop for the Beijing meetings.