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Trump’s latest warning to enforce an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

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

His statements on Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

The president’s words reignited concerns of a trade war between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on products from China subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of formal replies 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 defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to safeguard national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “an extended period”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, exploited export control measures and “implemented” discriminatory practices against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to engage with China,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.