🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s most recent ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on products from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for exports of rare earth minerals, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a arranged meeting with China’s President Xi, which was set for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

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

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to drop significant levies on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China incur a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to media inquiries – reflected language from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” the spokesperson said.

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

The previous week, Beijing declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation handles about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a method of strengthening positions ahead of future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.