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Trump’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an extra complete levy on items imported from China has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of rare earths, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a arranged meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

The president’s words reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to press queries – mirrored language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official remarked that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative stated.

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

The previous week, the Chinese government announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on key elements and other materials vital for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.