Beijing Slams US of ‘Contradictory Stances’ Concerning Tariff Threat
The former US president’s most recent warning to enforce an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.
A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade war.
On Friday, Donald Trump responded at Beijing’s move to tighten its policies for overseas sales of rare earths, accusing Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.
He also vowed to pull out of a planned talks with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.
Trump’s comments on that day unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.
The president’s words revived concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.
This past spring, the both nations had agreed to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.
This left, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the beginning of 2025, while American products entering the Chinese market face a import levy.
Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to press queries – echoed terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.
The remarks condemned US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of all nations.
The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.
“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the official commented.
“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has always been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”
Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for advanced tech manufacturing.
The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.
New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a method of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.
It is unclear whether a talks between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.
