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Trump’s latest warning to enforce an additional complete levy on items imported from China has been described as a “typical example” of US double standards, as stated by the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that the nation could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he warned to withdraw from a scheduled summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

These statements reignited concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering China face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with China,” the official commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and additional substances vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.