Washington (CNN) Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow expressed support Sunday for President Donald Trump's enthusiastic pursuit of tariffs on China, saying that so long as tariffs are "targeted," the actions are valid.

Kudlow, whose comments walked back his previous pre-White House characterization of tariffs as a "regressive tax on low-income families," was responding to a question from anchor Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union" about whether he agreed with Trump's tweet last week that "Tariffs are the greatest!"

"You know, if they're targeted for good purpose, as per China, I think the answer is absolutely yes," Kudlow answered.

Kudlow further remarked that his support for targeted tariffs has "always" been his view.

"Most free traders agree China has not played by the rules, and the trading system is broken largely because of them," he said.