Donald Trump's tariffs have not been popular with the affected countries since they were introduced, and now China has hit back on the latest one with a warning.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has lashed out at Trump and his administration, accusing them of 'hypocrisy'.
It comes after Trump has caused tension again with Beijing, after he threatened to apply a new round of tariffs on Chinese goods.
He also warned of new export restrictions for the country on 'any and all critical software', which the Ministry called 'a typical example of double standards'.
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Trump's threat included an additional 100 percent tariff on imports coming from China, in addition to export controls from November 1.
Not only that, but the President suggested he might cancel a meeting which has been planned with Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
The date of the new export controls, November 1, is two days after the proposed meeting.
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Trump told the Financial Times that the timing was deliberate: "We’re gonna have to see what happens. That’s why I made it November 1.
“I haven’t cancelled, but I don’t know that we’re gonna have it. But I’m gonna be there regardless, so I would assume we might have it.”
Will China hit back at the US tariffs with countermeasures?
China has said it will take 'resolute measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.'
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They also said there would be 'countermeasures', including the addition of special port fees on ships built and operated by the US.
The Ministry called it 'defensive action' after Washington introduced port charges, which those in Beijing allege has severely harmed their interests.
In a statement, they accused the US of 'ratcheting up economic measures' against Beijing since September.
They are not taking the warnings lightly, and have discouraged Trump from making threats 'at every turn'.
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"China's position on the trade war is consistent: we do not want it, but we are not afraid of it," added the ministry.
Trump has previously accused China of profiting from the trade of fentanyl, which has been a major focus of his.
The US currently imposes an extra 30 percent in tariffs since Trump started his second term, while Beijing imposes an extra 10 percent in tariffs on US goods.
Why is the US and China's trade war heating up?
At the heart of the conflict is rare earth minerals, which are used in things like smartphones and electric vehicles.
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Crucially, they are also needed for renewable energy technology and military hardware, and China is responsible for much of the global production of these materials.
Alarmingly for the US, they introduced restrictions on these rare materials last week.
These limits were placed on the export of technology required to both mine and refine the rare earth minerals.
Trump said Beijing was being 'very hostile' with these new restrictions, arguing on Truth Social that they 'should not be allowed to hold the world captive' by limiting access to these much-needed materials.
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The Ministry wants Trump to back down on his new tariff threat, and it is not known if the meeting with Jinping will go ahead.
Topics: US News, Politics, Donald Trump, China, Business, Tariffs
Jen Thomas