China vows to stand firm against Trump's tariff threat. He urges Beijing
to be less confrontational
[October 13, 2025] By
KEN MORITSUGU
BEIJING (AP) — China signaled on Sunday that it would not back down in
the face of a 100% tariff threat from President Donald Trump and urged
the United States to resolve differences through negotiations instead of
threats. Trump responded by taking a less confrontational approach
without retreating from his demands, while his vice president seemed to
warn Beijing not to react aggressively.
“China’s stance is consistent,” the Commerce Ministry said in a
statement posted online. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not
afraid of one.”
It was China's first official comment on Trump's threat to jack up the
tax on imports from China by Nov. 1 in response to new Chinese
restrictions on the export of rare earths, which are vital to a wide
range of consumer and military products.
Hours later, Trump used his Truth Social platform to send a message to
Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
“Don't worry about China, it will all be fine!” the Republican president
wrote. “Highly respected President Xi just had a bad moment. He doesn’t
want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to
help China, not hurt it!!!”
Trump may have had an eye toward to U.S. financial markets on the eve of
the new business week. The stock market will be open Monday, though bond
markets will close for the Columbus Day holiday. On Friday, the broad
S&P 500 stock market index plunged 2.7%, its worst day in about six
months after Trump's tariff threat.
The back and forth threatens to derail a possible meeting between Trump
and Xi and end a truce in a trade war in which new tariffs from both
sides briefly topped 100% in April.
Vice President JD Vance said Trump was committed to protecting America's
economic livelihoods while making the U.S. more self-sufficient. He said
the fact that China has “so much control over critical supply in the
United States of America" is the definition of a national emergency and
therefore justifies Trump's move to impose tough tariffs.
“It’s going to be delicate dance and a lot of it is going to depend on
how the Chinese respond. If they respond in a highly aggressive manner,
I guarantee you the president of the United States has far more cards
than the People’s Republic of China,” Vance said on Fox News Channel's
“Sunday Morning Futures.”
“If, however, they’re willing to be reasonable, then Donald Trump is
always willing to be a reasonable negotiator. We’re going to find out a
lot in the weeks to come about whether China wants to start a trade war
with us or whether they actually want to be reasonable,” Vance
continued. "I hope they choose the path of reason. The president of the
United States is going to defend America regardless.”
Trump has raised taxes on imports from many U.S. trading partners since
taking office in January, seeking to win concessions. China has been one
of the few countries that hasn't backed down, relying on its economic
clout.
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An aerial view of a container port is seen in Qingdao in east
China's Shandong province, on June 6, 2024. (Chinatopix via AP,
File)
“Frequently resorting to the threat of high tariffs is not the correct
way to get along with China,” the Commerce Ministry said in its post,
which was presented as a series of answers from an unnamed spokesperson
to four questions from unspecified media outlets.
The statement called for addressing any concerns through dialogue.
“If the U.S. side obstinately insists on its practice, China will be
sure to resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its
legitimate rights and interests,” the post said.
In addition to the 100% tariff, Trump threatened to impose export
controls on what he called “critical software,” without specifying what
that means.
Both sides accuse the other of violating the spirit of the truce by
imposing new restrictions on trade.
Trump said in a social media post that China is “becoming very hostile”
and that it is holding the world captive by restricting access to rare
earth metals and magnets.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry post said the U.S. has introduced several
new restrictions in recent weeks, including expanding the number of
Chinese companies subject to U.S. export controls.
On rare earths, the ministry said that export licenses would be granted
for legitimate civilian uses, noting that the minerals also have
military applications.
The new regulations include a requirement that foreign companies get
Chinese government approval to export items that contain rare earths
sourced from China, no matter where the products are manufactured.
China accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s rare earths mining and
controls roughly 90% of their global processing. Access to the material
is a key point of contention in trade talks between Washington and
Beijing.
The critical minerals go into many products, from jet engines, radar
systems and electric vehicles to consumer electronics including laptops
and phones. China’s export controls have hit European and other
manufacturers, as well as American ones.
The Commerce Ministry statement said that the U.S. is also ignoring
Chinese concerns by going forward with new port fees on Chinese ships
that take effect Tuesday. China announced Friday that it would impose
port fees on American ships in response.
—-
Associated Press writer Darlene Superville and AP Economics Writer
Christopher Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.
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