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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for exports of rare earths, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a arranged talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on products from China incurring an additional 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of every country.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has remained steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening export controls on key elements and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a means of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in South Korea later this month, will still proceed.