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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to impose an additional complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a planned talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

In May, the both nations had agreed to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering China face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the format of written responses to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson commented.

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

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and President Xi, expected at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.