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Trump’s latest warning to impose an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader executes his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade war.

Last Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

His statements on that day shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

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

Earlier this year, the both nations had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on products from China subject to an extra thirty percent tariff 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 Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official stated that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “implemented” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” the official commented.

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

Recently, China declared it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and additional substances critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a key move, as the state handles about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a conference in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.