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The former US president’s most recent warning to enforce an additional complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that China could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for exports of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

He also warned to cancel a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

His comments reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “adopted unfair treatments against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with China,” the official 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.”

Last week, China revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and other materials critical for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the state processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will still proceed.