🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an extra 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the US President executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its rules for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on products from China subject to an additional 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to press queries – reflected terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to deal with China,” the spokesperson said.

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

Recently, Beijing revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and further resources vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the country refines about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being seen by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.