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Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President carries out his pledge, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a looming commercial battle.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a arranged summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled financial markets, 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 renewed apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the respective governments had consented to remove significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, United States levies on products from China incurring an additional 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while justifying Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused export control measures and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to interact with China,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has consistently been consistent: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, expected at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.