🔗 Share this article

Trump’s most recent warning to impose an further full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its policies for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

His comments renewed concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering China are subject to a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with China,” the official stated.

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

The previous week, China declared it was tightening export controls on key elements and other materials critical for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as solar panels and mobile phones.

The recent comments from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a summit in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.