🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s latest threat to impose an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been called a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to pull out of a planned talks with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a summit in South Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on products from China subject to an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China face a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of national security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to engage with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in products such as solar panels and smartphones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being interpreted by observers as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul later this month, will take place as planned.