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The former US president’s latest warning to enforce an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming commercial battle.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for exports of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had reached an agreement to eliminate significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, US tariffs on products from China facing an added import tax compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country incur a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – released by the relevant government department in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the spokesperson said.

“China’s position on a tariff war has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances critical for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by observers as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.