🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s newest ultimatum to introduce an further 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “typical example” of US double standards, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for exports of rare earths, alleging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also vowed to cancel a scheduled talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea later this month.

His statements on Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering China face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to press queries – reflected language from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending Beijing’s export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

The official said that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with China,” their representative stated.

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

Last week, China announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a key move, as the country processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

Latest statements from both governments are being viewed by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.