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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to impose an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that the nation could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he vowed to pull out of a arranged summit with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements reignited concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China.

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

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an extra import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure domestic safety and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the correct approach to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country refines about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.