🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s newest threat to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a planned summit with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had agreed to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “implemented” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with China,” the spokesperson commented.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has remained unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation handles about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being seen by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.