🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s latest warning to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also warned to cancel a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

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

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China facing an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the format of written responses to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

The official remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with Beijing,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government announced it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a conference in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.