🔗 Share this article

The former US president’s most recent warning to impose an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for exports of rare earths, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a arranged summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

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

Earlier this year, the both nations had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China subject to an additional import tax compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country face a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – published by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of the global community.

The official said that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with China,” the spokesperson stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government announced it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and smartphones.

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

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.