🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an extra complete levy on items imported from China has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could implement its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

Last Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its rules for exports of rare earths, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a conference in South Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

These statements revived apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of formal replies to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “an extended period”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

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

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.