China slams Trump’s 100% tariff threat, defends rare earth export curbs

Beijing: China has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff announcement, calling it hypocritical and a provocation that undermines ongoing efforts at trade dialogue.

The statement comes in response to Trump’s move on Friday to impose a sweeping 100% tariff on all Chinese exports to the United States, set to take effect on November 1.

In a statement issued Sunday, China’s Ministry of Commerce defended its recent export controls on rare earth elements and related equipment — a measure that triggered the latest escalation. The ministry emphasized that Beijing’s curbs were a direct response to a “series of hostile U.S. actions,” including new export restrictions on Chinese companies and added port fees on China-linked vessels.

“China’s stance is consistent,” the ministry stated. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one.”

The U.S. tariffs follow Trump’s characterization of China’s rare earth export curbs as “surprising” and “very hostile,” further straining already fragile relations between the world’s two largest economies. Beijing, however, rejected these criticisms, accusing Washington of applying “double standards” and undermining the prospects for future negotiations.

“These actions have severely harmed China’s interests and damaged the atmosphere for bilateral economic and trade talks. China firmly opposes them,” the ministry said.

Notably, Beijing has so far refrained from announcing direct retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump’s latest move, marking a shift from previous rounds of tit-for-tat escalation during the ongoing trade dispute.

Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing reignited last month following a breakdown in negotiations held in Madrid, where both sides failed to resolve key disagreements over technology transfers, export controls, and national security concerns.