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The former US president’s newest warning to enforce an additional complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that the nation could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

On Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

He also threatened to cancel a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since April.

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

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an additional 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the state processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.