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The former US president’s latest threat to impose an additional complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a scheduled meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

The president’s words reignited apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the both nations had reached an agreement to drop high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods facing an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the relevant government department in the format of written responses to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.