🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s newest threat to enforce an further 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President executes his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earths, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to pull out of a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments reignited fears of a trade conflict between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on products from China subject to an additional 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – released by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to engage with Beijing,” their representative stated.

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

Last week, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and further resources vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the state refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.