China Accuses United States of ‘Double Standards’ Concerning Tariff Threat
The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.
A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.
Last Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.
Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a planned talks with China’s President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.
The former president’s remarks on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.
His comments reignited concerns of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.
Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.
As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an extra 30% levy compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the country are subject to a 10% tariff.
China’s latest remarks – released by the relevant government department in the form of official answers to press queries – echoed terminology from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.
They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of the global community.
Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing.
“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” the spokesperson commented.
“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”
Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials critical for cutting-edge industry.
This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state refines about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.
New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for future trade talks.
It is unclear whether a talks between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.
