🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s most recent threat to impose an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

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

His statements on Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while justifying China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, exploited export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to engage with Beijing,” their representative commented.

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

Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state processes about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in items such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.