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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his threat, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for exports of rare earths, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was set for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering China are subject to a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to press queries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own export controls on rare earths as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to engage with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has consistently been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, China declared it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and other materials essential to cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the country refines about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

The recent comments from the US and China are being viewed by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month, will go ahead.