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Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an further full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

He also threatened to cancel a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 falling by 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

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

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an added 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Commerce Ministry in the format of official answers to journalist’s questions – mirrored language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of every country.

The official said that for “an extended period”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, misused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to deal with Beijing,” the spokesperson commented.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has consistently been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by some as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, expected at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.