🔗 Share this article

Trump’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

Last Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to tighten its rules for exports of critical elements, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a planned talks with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since April.

His comments revived concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an additional 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited export control measures and “implemented” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with China,” the official commented.

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

Recently, China declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.