🔗 Share this article

Trump’s most recent ultimatum to impose an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could implement its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled summit with China’s President President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in South Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday shook stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements revived apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the country are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused export control measures and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to engage with Beijing,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a tariff war has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government announced it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials essential to cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

Latest statements from the US and China are being interpreted by observers as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, expected at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.