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The former US president’s newest threat to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming commercial battle.

On Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also warned to pull out of a arranged summit with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese imports incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to press queries – mirrored terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting China’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of every country.

The official stated that for “many years”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was tightening export controls on rare earths and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the state refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

The recent comments from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.