🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s most recent threat to enforce an additional full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that China could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a planned talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments revived apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country incur a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to press queries – echoed language from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has consistently been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in items such as solar panels and mobile phones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being viewed by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, planned at a summit in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.