🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s most recent warning to impose an further 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

Last Friday, Trump responded at China’s decision to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Additionally, he vowed to pull out of a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on Friday unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China subject to an added 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to press queries – mirrored language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to safeguard national security and that of every country.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

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

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has remained consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and further resources vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation handles about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances prior to future trade talks.

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