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Donald Trump’s newest threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible commercial battle.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments revived concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on products from China facing an additional 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with China,” the official said.

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

The previous week, Beijing announced it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials essential to cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by some as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.