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Trump’s newest warning to enforce an further 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the American leader carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Additionally, he warned to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements reignited fears of a trade conflict between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering China incur a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – published by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to deal with Beijing,” their representative stated.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, China declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state processes about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

The recent comments from both governments are being viewed by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.