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Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to enforce an additional full import duty on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was set for a conference in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on that day rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

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

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove significant levies on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering China face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to media inquiries – mirrored terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative stated that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation handles about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Trump and China’s leader, planned at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.