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Donald Trump’s newest ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President follows through on his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a arranged summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks.

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

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

In May, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on products from China incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering China face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – mirrored terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on electronic components while defending China’s own export controls on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

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

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has remained unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.