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Trump’s newest warning to enforce an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Additionally, he vowed to cancel a scheduled meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China subject to an extra 30% levy 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 formal replies to press queries – echoed language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect national security and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.