🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s latest warning to impose an extra complete levy on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could implement its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, noting that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to tighten its policies for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a arranged talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements reignited apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had agreed to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China facing an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of formal replies to journalist’s questions – reflected rhetoric from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

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

“China’s position on a tariff war has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.