🔗 Share this article

Trump’s newest threat to enforce an further full import duty 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 also stated that China could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader executes his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also warned to cancel a planned talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

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

This past spring, the two sides had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – reflected language from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to ensure domestic safety and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “adopted unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was strengthening export controls on key elements and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation refines about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by some as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.