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Donald Trump’s latest warning to introduce an extra complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader follows through on his pledge, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at China’s decision to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a arranged summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day shook financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements reignited concerns of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an added 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country face a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government announced it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

Latest statements from both governments are being seen by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and President Xi, expected at a conference in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.