🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s newest threat to impose an further full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could introduce its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President follows through on his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a planned talks with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a summit in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived fears of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the both nations had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the relevant government department in the form of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

The official stated that for “many years”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative stated.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has remained steady: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources critical for cutting-edge industry.

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

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by some as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.