🔗 Share this article

Trump’s newest threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

He also vowed to withdraw from a arranged summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

His statements on that day rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

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

As a result, US tariffs on products from China facing an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the country face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of official answers to press queries – echoed language from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “an extended period”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has consistently been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on key elements and other materials vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.