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Donald Trump’s newest warning to enforce an further full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

Last Friday, Donald Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for exports of rare earths, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

These statements reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China facing an extra import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country are subject to a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to press queries – echoed terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.