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Trump’s newest ultimatum to enforce an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

He also warned to cancel a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day shook financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since April.

The president’s words revived concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the two sides had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods subject to an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country are subject to a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – published by the relevant government department in the form of formal replies to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with Beijing,” the spokesperson stated.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has consistently been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation processes about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by observers as a means of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.