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Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to enforce an further 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

On Friday, the former president responded at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

He also vowed to pull out of a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

The president’s words renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while US goods entering China face a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of formal replies to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, abused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

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

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was strengthening export controls on key elements and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.