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Trump’s newest warning to introduce an further complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of US double standards, according to the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for exports of rare earth minerals, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

His statements on last Friday shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments revived fears of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had agreed to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods facing an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of formal replies to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s export controls on rare earths as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the proper method to engage with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the state refines about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.