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Trump’s latest threat to enforce an further complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements revived concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had agreed to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on products from China facing an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering China incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the state refines about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.