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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to introduce an extra full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of US double standards, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible commercial battle.

On Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a planned talks with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an extra import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering China incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to journalist’s questions – mirrored language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while justifying the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the country handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being seen by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.