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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could enact its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader carries out his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for exports of rare earths, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Additionally, he warned to pull out of a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments renewed fears of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to remove significant levies on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on products from China subject to an additional import tax compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to journalist’s questions – mirrored terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with China,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was tightening export controls on rare earths and other materials essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the country refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances prior to forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.