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The former US president’s newest threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that Beijing could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its regulations for exports of rare earths, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul later this month.

His statements on that day shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

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

This past spring, the two sides had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned United States controls on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “an extended period”, the America had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

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

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being seen by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.