🔗 Share this article

Trump’s latest ultimatum to enforce an further 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its rules for overseas sales of rare earths, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

His statements on Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while justifying China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard national security and that of every country.

The official stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, China declared it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by some as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month, will go ahead.