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Donald Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been called a “classic case” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could implement its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming commercial battle.

On Friday, Donald Trump responded at China’s decision to reinforce its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to withdraw from a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements renewed concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on products from China incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of every country.

The official stated that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited export control measures and “implemented” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the state handles about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.