🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s newest threat to impose an further 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the American leader carries out his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a looming commercial battle.

On Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also vowed to pull out of a arranged meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the both nations had reached an agreement to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the country incur a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – mirrored language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” the spokesperson said.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has always been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the country processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

The recent comments from both governments are being interpreted by some as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a conference in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.