🔗 Share this article

Trump’s latest warning to impose an extra 100% tariff on items imported from China has been called a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that China could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for exports of rare earth minerals, charging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also threatened to cancel a scheduled meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements reignited fears of a trade war between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an added 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the country incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of official answers to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced United States controls on electronic components while defending Beijing’s export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of the global community.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances vital for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the country processes about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a method of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.