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Trump’s latest threat to enforce an additional complete levy on products from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a planned talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was set for a conference in Seoul later this month.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since April.

The president’s words reignited apprehensions of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods 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 – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to deal with Beijing,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in South Korea later this month, will still proceed.