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Trump’s latest warning to enforce an further complete levy on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that the nation could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming commercial battle.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its rules for exports of rare earths, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports facing an extra import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market face a 10% tariff.

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

Officials denounced US export restrictions on electronic components while defending the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with Beijing,” the official commented.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials critical for cutting-edge industry.

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

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.