You’re reading the Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition newsletter. Get what you need to know to start your day. Get it sent to your inbox.

       Image

       Credit...Karsten Moran for The New York Times

       Trump battled in court to save his trade agenda President Trump was fighting yesterday to preserve many of the sweeping tariffs on China and other U.S. partners that are his administration’s weapon of choice for a global trade war.

       After a federal court had declared many of the tariffs illegal, dealing a major setback to Trump, his administration won a reprieve when an appeals court temporarily froze the decision.

       That means that Trump can, for now, maintain many of the tariffs he has imposed on China, Canada and Mexico and continue to threaten “reciprocal” rates, which he announced on most nations and then suspended in early April.

       But it is not the final word in the legal saga, which is expected to land at the Supreme Court.

       Reactions: Trade experts and trading partners around the world were left in limbo after the court decision blocking tariffs. More than a dozen countries are involved in active talks with the administration, which is demanding that other nations lower their taxes and restrictions on U.S.-made goods in exchange for a reduction in tariffs.

       Advertisement

       SKIP ADVERTISEMENT

       Courts: The judiciary has emerged as the primary check on the president’s power. Over the first 130 days of Trump’s second term, courts have ruled against at least 180 of his actions.

       Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.