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The former US president’s newest warning to introduce an further full import duty on products from China has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that China could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President executes his warning, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a potential commercial battle.

Last Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on last Friday shook financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

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

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of formal replies to press queries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised US export restrictions on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect domestic safety and that of every country.

Their representative remarked that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to deal with Beijing,” the spokesperson said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has remained consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing export controls on key elements and further resources critical for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country handles about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a summit in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.