🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an further 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the American leader carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he vowed to cancel a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments reignited fears of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had consented to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an additional 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while American products entering China incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to interact with China,” the official said.

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

Recently, China declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances essential to cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the nation handles about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

The recent comments from both governments are being interpreted by analysts as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will take place as planned.