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Trump’s most recent threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could implement its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Additionally, he warned to pull out of a scheduled meeting with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the both nations had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on products from China incurring an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to media inquiries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on electronic components while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of every country.

Their representative remarked that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to engage with Beijing,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the state handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from both governments are being viewed by observers as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.