🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an further 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been described as a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he warned to withdraw from a arranged summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words reignited apprehensions of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the two sides had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to press queries – mirrored terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused export control measures and “implemented” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with China,” the official stated.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and additional substances critical for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

The recent comments from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a summit in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.