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Donald Trump’s newest warning to impose an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for exports of rare earth minerals, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of formal replies to press queries – reflected terminology from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending China’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” the official said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation handles about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a summit in South Korea later this month, will still proceed.