🔗 Share this article

Trump’s latest threat to introduce an additional complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he warned to pull out of a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

His statements on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

These statements reignited concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate significant levies on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of official answers to journalist’s questions – mirrored language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while justifying the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “routine measures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with Beijing,” the official said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

The recent comments from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul later this month, will take place as planned.