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Trump’s latest ultimatum to impose an further complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

On Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to tighten its policies for exports of critical elements, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also vowed to cancel a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments revived concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of formal replies to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited export control measures and “adopted unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with China,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has consistently been unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to forthcoming discussions.

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