🔗 Share this article

Trump’s latest threat to introduce an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that China could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also vowed to withdraw from a arranged talks with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of formal replies to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “normal actions” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The official said that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the country handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in items such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between Donald Trump and China’s leader, planned at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month, will take place as planned.