China Slams US Over Tariff Threat: Claims Double Standards

Sun Oct 12 2025 18:57:24 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In response to President Trump's potential 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, China accuses the US of double standards and threatens countermeasures amidst rising trade tensions.

China's government has labeled President Donald Trump's recent threat to impose a hefty 100% tariff on Chinese imports as a prime instance of US double standards. A spokesperson from China's Commerce Ministry stated that the nation is prepared to take countermeasures and is unafraid of a trade war. Trump's comments, which also criticized China's export regulations on rare earth materials, contributed to anxiety in financial markets, with stocks experiencing notable declines. The ongoing trade tension highlights a deteriorating relationship and raises questions about future discussions between Trump and Xi Jinping.

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 other's 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 written responses to journalists' questions – echoed language from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticized US export restrictions on chips and semiconductors as well as defending China's own export controls on rare earths as normal actions to safeguard national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said the US had overstretched the concept of national security, abused export control measures and adopted discriminatory practices against China for a long time.

Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to engage with China, the spokesperson said.

China's position on a tariff war has always been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.

Last week, China announced it was tightening export controls on rare earths and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the country processes about 90% of the world's rare earths, which are used in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are viewed by some as a means of strengthening positions ahead of future trade talks.

It remains unclear whether Trump's anticipated meeting with Xi Jinping, scheduled to take place at a summit in South Korea later this month, will still proceed.

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