Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods is “a typical example of US double standards”, China’s government has said.
A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also said China could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his threat, adding it was “not afraid” of a possible trade war.
On Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its rules for exports of rare earths, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and trying to hold the world “captive”.
He also threatened to pull out of a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping scheduled for later this month.
Trump’s comments on Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, its steepest fall since April.
The president’s words renewed fears of a trade war between the US and China.
In May, the two sides had agreed to drop triple-digit tariffs on each others’ goods. which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.
This left US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an added 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China face a 10% tariff.
China’s latest remarks – released by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed language from the height of the recent trade conflict.
They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors as well as defending China’s own export controls on rare earths as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of all nations.
Credit: bbc.cm
