🔗 Share this article

Trump’s newest warning to impose an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of rare earths, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also vowed to pull out of a scheduled meeting with Chinese leader President Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

His statements on last Friday shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on products from China facing an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of formal replies to press queries – mirrored language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while supporting Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of every country.

The official stated that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has remained steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government declared it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances essential to cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the state refines about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.