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Trump’s newest threat to introduce an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Chinese government.

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

This past Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, alleging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi, which was set for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday rattled stock exchanges, 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 commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the both nations had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, United States levies on products from China facing an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused export control measures and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to deal with China,” the spokesperson stated.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has remained consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and other materials critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a important measure, as the country refines about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a means of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.