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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his pledge, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade war.

On Friday, the former president responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was set for a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an extra import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against China.

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

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

Recently, Beijing revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.