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Donald Trump’s most recent warning to introduce an additional complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could implement its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President follows through on his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade war.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a planned talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments reignited concerns of a trade war between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had agreed to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an added 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with China,” the spokesperson commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, China declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, expected at a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.