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Trump’s most recent warning to impose an additional complete levy on products from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to 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 carries out his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade war.

On Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for exports of critical elements, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to pull out of a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese goods subject to an added 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, abused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the official said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on key elements and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by some as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.