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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant carries out his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a arranged summit with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a summit in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on that day unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the America had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, misused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted unfair treatments against China.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.