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The former US president’s latest threat to enforce an further complete levy on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that the nation could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the American leader carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade war.

Last Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to tighten its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Additionally, he threatened to cancel a scheduled talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was set for a conference in Seoul later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments reignited fears of a trade war between the two economic giants.

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

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused export control measures and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with China,” the official commented.

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

Recently, Beijing declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the country processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to forthcoming discussions.

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