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Trump’s newest threat to introduce an extra full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to withdraw from a scheduled summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering China incur a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – released by the relevant government department in the manner of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to engage with Beijing,” their representative stated.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and further resources vital for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a significant step, as the state refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in goods such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.