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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to impose an extra 100% tariff on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of US double standards, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Chinese leader Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul later this month.

His statements on last Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports subject to an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to journalist’s questions – mirrored language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect national security and that of every country.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

“China’s position on a tariff war has consistently been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being seen by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.