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The former US president’s most recent warning to impose an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

He also vowed to pull out of a planned talks with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on last Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of official answers to journalist’s questions – mirrored rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are used in items such as solar panels and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will take place as planned.