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Donald Trump’s newest ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President executes his pledge, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to tighten its policies for exports of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a scheduled talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

These statements revived fears of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on products from China incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – released by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to journalist’s questions – mirrored rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own export controls on rare earths as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of every country.

The official said that for “many years”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

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

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and other materials vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in goods such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will take place as planned.