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Trump’s latest ultimatum to impose an further 100% tariff on items imported from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the American leader executes his pledge, noting that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at China’s decision to reinforce its regulations for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also warned to pull out of a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

His comments reignited fears of a trade conflict between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods subject to an extra import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while defending Beijing’s export controls on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to deal with Beijing,” the spokesperson commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was reinforcing export controls on key elements and additional substances vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being seen by some as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.