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Trump’s newest warning to impose an extra complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his pledge, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since April.

These statements revived concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove significant levies on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on products from China subject to an extra 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering China incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the format of formal replies to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while supporting Beijing’s restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to interact with China,” the spokesperson stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the state processes about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by some as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, expected at a conference in Seoul later this month, will take place as planned.