🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s latest threat to impose an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could introduce its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader carries out his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a looming commercial battle.

Last Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to strengthen its rules for exports of critical elements, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to cancel a scheduled meeting with Chinese leader Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of official answers to press queries – reflected language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, China revealed it was tightening export controls on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for high-technology production.

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

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.