China Denounces U.S. Tariff Threats as Double Standards Amid Trade Tensions

Thu Oct 16 2025 21:43:25 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In response to President Donald Trump's proposal of a hefty tariff on Chinese imports, China claims his approach exemplifies U.S. double standards and threatens countermeasures if the tariffs are enforced.

China has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's recent tariff threats as a display of double standards and asserts its readiness to respond with countermeasures. This escalation in trade rhetoric comes on the heels of China's restrictions on rare earth exports, heightening concerns of a renewed trade war. Trump's comments have already rattled financial markets, raising fears that ongoing negotiations between the two nations may falter.

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 stated that 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 rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, its steepest fall since April, reigniting 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 criticised US export restrictions on chips and semiconductors and defended China's own export controls on rare earths as normal actions for safeguarding national security.

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

Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to engage with China, the spokesperson said, reiterating that China does not want a tariff war, but is prepared if it occurs.

Last week, China announced it was tightening export controls on rare earths and materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing, a significant move as China processes about 90% of the world's rare earths used in various technologies.

The escalating rhetoric from both Washington and Beijing seems aimed at solidifying their positions ahead of future trade talks, leaving the fate of the anticipated meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping uncertain.