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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to impose an additional complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

On Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for exports of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

He also vowed to pull out of a scheduled summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

His comments revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on products from China incurring an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of every country.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, misused export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, China declared it was tightening export controls on key elements and further resources essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a method of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.