China Accuses America of ‘Contradictory Stances’ Over Import Duty Ultimatum

The former US president’s newest threat to impose an further full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that China could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his warning, noting that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump responded at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Chinese leader Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

His statements on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an added import tax compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to press queries – echoed language from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and other materials essential to cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by some as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.