🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s newest ultimatum to enforce an extra full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the American leader carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

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

Trump’s comments on Friday unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on products from China facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to press queries – reflected language from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, abused 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 tariff war has remained consistent: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, China declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials vital for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a important measure, as the country handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a method of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and President Xi, expected at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.