🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an extra complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his threat, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, Trump retaliated at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for exports of critical elements, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also vowed to cancel a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

His comments revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on products from China subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with Beijing,” the spokesperson said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was reinforcing export controls on key elements and further resources essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being interpreted by observers as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Trump and China’s leader, expected at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.