🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s latest threat to introduce an further complete levy on items imported from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the US President executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to withdraw from a arranged talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

His statements on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China are subject to a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson remarked that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to engage with China,” the spokesperson stated.

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

Last week, China announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being viewed by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in South Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.