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Donald Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his pledge, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he warned to pull out of a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a summit in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

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

This past spring, the two sides had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting China’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with China,” their representative commented.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and additional substances vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by some as a method of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and China’s leader, expected at a summit in South Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.