🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s most recent threat to enforce an additional full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the US President carries out his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a scheduled talks with China’s President President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

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

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China are subject to a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused export control measures and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the state refines about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and China’s leader, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.