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Trump’s most recent threat to impose an further full import duty on products from China has been described as a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President follows through on his threat, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also threatened to pull out of a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month.

His statements on that day shook financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on products from China facing an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to press queries – reflected language from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while defending the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to interact with China,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from both governments are being viewed by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.