🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s latest threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could implement its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming commercial battle.

On Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its regulations for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

He also vowed to pull out of a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in Seoul later this month.

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

These statements renewed concerns of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while justifying Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to engage with China,” their representative commented.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, China revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the state refines about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, expected at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.