🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s newest warning to enforce an further full import duty on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, per the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade war.

On Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at China’s decision to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a scheduled talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day shook stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

The president’s words reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the two sides had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on products from China facing an extra 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to press queries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned United States controls on electronic components while supporting Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of the global community.

Their representative remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the official said.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the state refines about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between the former president and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.