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Donald Trump’s latest warning to enforce an additional complete levy on Chinese goods has been labeled a “prime illustration” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a looming commercial battle.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earths, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on Friday unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

The president’s words reignited concerns of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to safeguard national security and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, exploited export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with Beijing,” their representative said.

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

Recently, the Chinese government announced it was tightening export controls on rare earths and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country refines about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by analysts as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.