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The former US president’s most recent threat to introduce an extra complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could enact its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earths, accusing China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 falling by 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

The president’s words reignited concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese imports facing an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to press queries – mirrored terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson stated that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused export control measures and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was tightening export controls on rare earth minerals and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are used in products such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.