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Donald Trump’s newest warning to impose an additional full import duty on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that China could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his warning, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to strengthen its rules for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

He also vowed to pull out of a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

His statements on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words reignited fears of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods subject to an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – released by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored language from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard national security and that of every country.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with China,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, China announced it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and further resources vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in items such as solar panels and handheld devices.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.