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Donald Trump’s newest threat to enforce an additional complete levy on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

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

This past Friday, Trump responded at China’s decision to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

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

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an additional import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering the country are subject to a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

The official remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” their representative stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was strengthening export controls on key elements and other materials essential to cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the state processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a means of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.