🔗 Share this article

Trump’s newest warning to impose an further 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also warned to withdraw from a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in Seoul later this month.

Trump’s comments on Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

The president’s words revived concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an added 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced United States controls on semiconductors and chips while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to engage with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

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

The previous week, Beijing declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.