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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to enforce an additional complete levy on products from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade war.

On Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for exports of critical elements, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 dropping over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements revived fears of a trade conflict between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on products from China incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was reinforcing export controls on key elements and further resources essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the state handles about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from both governments are being interpreted by some as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will take place as planned.