🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to introduce an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming commercial battle.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also vowed to withdraw from a arranged talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements reignited apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the country face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of formal replies to media inquiries – mirrored terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

The official said that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against Beijing.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, China declared it was tightening export controls on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the country refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a means of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Donald Trump and President Xi, expected at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.