China Warns of Retaliation Over Trump’s 100% Tariff Threat
China’s position on the trade war is consistent: we do not want it, but we are not afraid of it,” the ministry stated.
China, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Trade tensions between the United States and China have sharply intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, citing Beijing’s newly tightened export controls on rare earth elements — critical materials used in everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
Trump accused China of becoming “very hostile” and claimed Beijing is “holding the world captive” by limiting access to rare earths.
The threat comes just weeks before a possible meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the upcoming APEC summit in South Korea, a meeting that had been seen as an opportunity to revive stalled negotiations between the world’s two largest economies.
China Responds: “We Do Not Want a Trade War, But We Are Not Afraid of It”
In a formal statement released on Sunday, China’s Ministry of Commerce firmly rejected Washington’s tariff ultimatum and warned that Beijing will not yield to economic coercion.
“China’s position on the trade war is consistent: we do not want it, but we are not afraid of it,” the ministry stated.
“Willful threats of high tariffs are not the right way to get along with China. If the U.S. insists on going the wrong way, China will surely take resolute measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.”
Beijing emphasized that dialogue must be based on equality, not intimidation, urging Washington to abandon its approach of pressure and confrontation.
Strategic Leverage: China’s Rare Earth Controls Challenge U.S. Pressure
China’s recent export regulations require foreign companies to obtain special approval before exporting products containing even minimal amounts of Chinese-sourced rare earth elements.
This move underscores Beijing’s determination to defend control over vital supply chains, especially amid escalating U.S. trade threats.
Both nations had previously agreed in August to extend a fragile tariff truce, reducing U.S. duties on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, and lowering China’s tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10%. However, that agreement is set to expire in November — raising fears that Trump’s new threat could trigger a renewed trade war.
While Washington frames its actions as “economic defense,” Beijing insists it is defending sovereignty and economic fairness. (PW)