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Trump’s latest ultimatum to impose an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been called a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, Donald Trump responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on last Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the both nations had consented to remove significant levies on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports facing an additional import tax 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 – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to safeguard state interests and that of the global community.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against China.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with Beijing,” the spokesperson said.

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

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on key elements and other materials essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the state refines about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are used in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from both governments are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.