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Trump’s most recent ultimatum to impose an further full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

He also threatened to cancel a planned summit with Chinese leader President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day shook global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

These statements renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the relevant government department in the format of written responses to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

The official said that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been consistent: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.