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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to impose an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for exports of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering China face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected rhetoric from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, abused export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to deal with Beijing,” the official commented.

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

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was tightening export controls on key elements and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a means of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a summit in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.