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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an further full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that the nation could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, alleging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a arranged meeting with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

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

This past spring, the both nations had agreed to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored language from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of the global community.

The official remarked that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on key elements and other materials essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a key move, as the country handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.