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The former US president’s latest warning to enforce an extra complete levy on Chinese goods has been labeled a “prime illustration” of US double standards, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a planned summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments revived concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to press queries – reflected terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official said that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited export control measures and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, expected at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.