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Trump’s most recent ultimatum to impose an additional complete levy on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also vowed to cancel a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

The president’s words revived concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the both nations had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China face a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of official answers to press queries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

The official remarked that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with China,” the official stated.

“China’s position on a tariff war has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and further resources critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in products such as solar panels and handheld devices.

The recent comments from both governments are being interpreted by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month, will go ahead.