🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s newest threat to impose an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for exports of critical elements, charging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a planned meeting with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

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

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

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an additional 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected rhetoric from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a method of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul later this month, will still proceed.