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Trump’s latest threat to impose an extra complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of US double standards, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could enact its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President executes his threat, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earths, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a scheduled summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

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

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of national security, abused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation handles about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being interpreted by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a summit in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.