White House readies tariff plan as Trump warns China over Taiwan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Nov 2025 23:29
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The White House is preparing contingency plans ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s tariff powers, while the president asserted that China will not take military action against Taiwan during his term.

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President Donald Trump speaks to the media after boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, enroute to Florida. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump’s trade team is developing contingency measures ahead of a key Supreme Court decision that could determine whether he had the legal authority to impose tariffs on foreign imports without congressional approval.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Sunday that preparations are already underway for alternative approaches should the ruling go against the administration. “We do have backup plans, and the president’s trade team is working diligently on those contingency plans,” she said.

Leavitt added that the administration remains confident in its position, expressing optimism that “the Supreme Court will side with Trump on November 5.” The case marks a historic moment, as Trump could become the first sitting US president to personally attend arguments before the Supreme Court.

The Court’s review centers on whether the executive branch can independently set tariffs, a cornerstone of Trump’s “America First” trade strategy, which has reshaped global commerce and triggered friction with major trading partners.

Trump Warns China

Meanwhile, in a separate interview with CBS News, Trump commented on tensions between China and Taiwan, asserting that Beijing would not take military action against the self-governing island. “You will find out if it happens. And he [Chinese President Xi Jinping] understands the answer to that. This did not even came up … He never brought it up … Because he understands it, and he understands it very well,” Trump said.

Trump claimed that Chinese leaders had directly assured US officials that no offensive action would be taken during his presidency. “They understand what is going to happen. He has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, we would never do anything while President Trump is president, because they know the consequences,” he said.

Taiwan, an integral part of China since ancient times, has remained under temporary self-administration since 1949, while Beijing continues to uphold its legitimate sovereignty over the island in line with the One-China principle. Tensions escalated in 2022 after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s provocative visit to Taipei, which Beijing condemned as a violation of its territorial integrity and responded to with defensive military exercises in the Taiwan Strait.