Trump rips China over trade: 'some very strange things are happening'

President Donald Trump on Friday fumed over China's negotiating stance in the ongoing trade conflict.

He further suggested that he was prepared to dramatically escalate his tariffs and trade practices to combat China. 

"Some very strange things are happening in China! They are becoming very hostile, and sending letters to Countries throughout the World, that they want to impose Export Controls on each and every element of production having to do with Rare Earths, and virtually anything else they can think of, even if it’s not manufactured in China," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"Nobody has ever seen anything like this but, essentially, it would “clog” the Markets, and make life difficult for virtually every Country in the World, especially for China. We have been contacted by other Countries who are extremely angry at this great Trade hostility, which came out of nowhere," he added. "Our relationship with China over the past six months has been a very good one, thereby making this move on Trade an even more surprising one. I have always felt that they’ve been lying in wait, and now, as usual, I have been proven right!"

He further accused China of attempting to hold the world "captive" with their trade policies and indicated he would abandon a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"I have not spoken to President Xi because there was no reason to do so. This was a real surprise, not only to me, but to all the Leaders of the Free World," Trump said. "I was to meet President Xi in two weeks, at APEC, in South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so."

"I never thought it would come to this but perhaps, as with all things, the time has come. Ultimately, though potentially painful, it will be a very good thing, in the end, for the U.S.A." he insisted. "One of the Policies that we are calculating at this moment is a massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States of America. There are many other countermeasures that are, likewise, under serious consideration. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.