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The former US president’s newest warning to enforce an further full import duty on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant follows through on his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of rare earths, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to cancel a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements reignited concerns of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports facing an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the right way to deal with China,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on key elements and other materials essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

The recent comments from both governments are being seen by some as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.