🔗 Share this article

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

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President executes his threat, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a looming commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earth minerals, alleging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on Friday unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of official answers to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “normal actions” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to deal with China,” their representative stated.

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

Recently, China declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by analysts as a method of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.