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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to impose an further full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his pledge, noting that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he warned to withdraw from a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in South Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China facing an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to media inquiries – echoed language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

The official remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with China,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, China declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.