Lutnick's analysis comes weeks after China filed a lawsuit against the U.S. with the World Trade Organization over its 10% tariff. It issued its own 10% tariff.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended President Trump’s approach to tariffs, saying on Sunday the president is focused on stopping fentanyl from entering the country and is actively engaging with targeted countries to find common ground.

Trump at first imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S., then exempted the duties on Mexican- and Canadian-made vehicles being transported into the U.S. and later by week’s end delayed the tariffs on almost all items for four weeks until April 2.