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Trump’s newest ultimatum to impose an additional complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his warning, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its rules for exports of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

The president’s words renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

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

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an added 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative stated that for “a long time”, the US had “broadened the definition” of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to deal with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources vital for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.