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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to enforce an further 100% tariff on items imported from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for exports of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also vowed to pull out of a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to press queries – mirrored language from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances vital for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by some as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will go ahead.