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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to impose an extra 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

His statements on last Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the two sides had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of written responses to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to interact with China,” the spokesperson said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, Beijing announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to high-technology production.

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

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.