Beijing, Oct 12 — China has hit back at the United States after former President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods, calling Washington’s approach a display of “double standards” and warning it could further damage ongoing trade relations.
In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the US remarks were “a typical example of double standards” that have “seriously undermined the atmosphere of economic and trade talks between the two countries.”
“The practice of threatening tariffs at every turn is not the right approach to engaging with China,” the ministry said, urging Washington to adopt a more constructive dialogue.
China defended its recent export control measures on heavy rare earth magnets, describing them as a “legitimate” and “sovereign” policy decision, while reaffirming its openness to continued engagement with all countries.
Trump had earlier accused Beijing of restricting exports of rare earth elements and announced plans to impose a 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports in retaliation. The move came after reports that China had notified several nations of upcoming restrictions on certain rare earth materials critical to global manufacturing.
Reacting sharply, Trump also said he saw “no reason” to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC summit in South Korea later this month. He claimed the US retained monopoly advantages “much stronger and more far-reaching than China’s.”
The latest exchange underscores renewed strain in China-US trade relations, with analysts warning that further escalation could disrupt global supply chains and intensify economic uncertainty.