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Trump’s newest threat to impose an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the American leader executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for exports of rare earth minerals, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

He also vowed to pull out of a scheduled talks with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

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

In May, the two sides had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports incurring an extra import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China are subject to a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of every country.

The official remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with Beijing,” their representative commented.

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

The previous week, China revealed it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state processes about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.