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Donald Trump’s newest ultimatum to impose an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that China could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President executes his warning, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earths, accusing the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Additionally, he threatened to cancel a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul later this month.

His statements on Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the country are subject to a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of official answers to journalist’s questions – mirrored terminology from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own export controls on rare earths as “normal actions” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

The official remarked that for “an extended period”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” the spokesperson commented.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has consistently been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and other materials critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the country refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by some as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, expected at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.