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Trump’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its regulations for exports of rare earths, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a planned talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was set for a meeting in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

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

This past spring, the two sides had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an additional 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the country incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored language from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised US export restrictions on electronic components while justifying the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” unfair treatments against China.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with Beijing,” their representative commented.

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

The previous week, Beijing announced it was strengthening export controls on key elements and other materials essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a key move, as the country refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.