BEIJING — China said Sunday it is “not afraid” of a trade war with the United States after President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs and export restrictions on Chinese goods, the state-run Global Times reported.

A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said that “willful threats of high tariffs” are not the right way to handle relations with Beijing.

“China’s position on the trade war is consistent — we do not want it, but we are not afraid of it,” the spokesperson said, adding that Beijing “firmly safeguards national and international security, takes a just and reasonable stance, and implements export control measures prudently and moderately.”

The remarks followed Trump’s announcement Friday that the U.S. will impose new tariffs of 100% on Chinese products and restrict exports of “critical software” in response to Beijing’s decision to tighten export controls on rare earth minerals.

“Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the U.S.A., and not other nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a tariff of 100% on China, over and above any tariff that they are currently paying,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added that Washington would also “impose export controls on any and all critical software,” calling Beijing’s move “impossible to believe.”

China announced the new rare earth export restrictions on Thursday, expanding limits on processing and manufacturing technologies and banning cooperation with foreign firms without prior government approval.

The Commerce Ministry said the measures are intended to safeguard national security and interests by restricting exports of rare earth-related technologies, including mining, smelting and separation, magnetic material production, and the recycling of secondary resources. — Agencies