🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s most recent threat to introduce an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President executes his pledge, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

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

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a arranged meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the country incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to press queries – echoed language from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative commented.

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

Last week, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and further resources essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being viewed by some as a method of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, expected at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.