🔗 Share this article Beijing Slams United States of ‘Double Standards’ Concerning Tariff Threat Donald Trump’s most recent threat to enforce an further 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the China’s leadership. A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President executes his threat, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict. On Friday, Donald Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”. Furthermore, he warned to cancel a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month. Trump’s comments on last Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 dropping over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since April. The president’s words revived concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China. Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries. Consequently, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country incur a import levy. China’s latest remarks – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of formal replies to press queries – echoed language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions. Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting China’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of all nations. Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing. “Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative commented. “The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.” The previous week, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to high-technology production. The action was viewed as a important measure, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and mobile phones. The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a means of bolstering negotiating stances prior to forthcoming discussions. It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, expected at a summit in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.