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Donald Trump’s most recent ultimatum to introduce an extra complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also threatened to pull out of a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

These statements reignited concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

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

Consequently, United States levies on products from China incurring an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to press queries – mirrored terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on electronic components while supporting Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earths as “normal actions” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

The official stated that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.