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Trump’s latest threat to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could implement its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Additionally, he threatened to cancel a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to press queries – reflected rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to interact with China,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, China declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the country refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by some as a means of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.