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The former US president’s newest threat to introduce an additional complete levy on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also vowed to cancel a scheduled meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words reignited fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the country face a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – mirrored language from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The official stated that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, China declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources critical for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being seen by observers as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.