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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to introduce an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, Donald Trump responded at China’s decision to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

He also threatened to cancel a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a conference in South Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the both nations had agreed to eliminate high import duties 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 additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – published by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the official said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances vital for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.