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Trump’s latest ultimatum to enforce an additional full import duty on products from China 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 undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a scheduled meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

These statements revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an additional 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the country face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with China,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, China announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the country refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in Seoul later this month, will still proceed.