🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s newest threat to impose an extra 100% tariff on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he warned to withdraw from a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on last Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

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

This past spring, the respective governments had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China face a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “adopted unfair treatments against China.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with China,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a tariff war has remained unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the country refines about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

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

Is not yet known whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, planned at a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month, will take place as planned.