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Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, alleging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a planned summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

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

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the country face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored rhetoric from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned United States controls on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, misused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to deal with China,” their representative commented.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has always been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, China declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the country refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by some as a method of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.