🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s latest warning to impose an additional full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President carries out his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, Trump retaliated at China’s decision to strengthen its regulations for exports of rare earths, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in Seoul later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments renewed concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the country are subject to a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Commerce Ministry in the form of formal replies to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to safeguard state interests and that of the global community.

The official said that for “an extended period”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against China.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to interact with China,” their representative stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening export controls on key elements and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the country handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by some as a means of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.