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The former US president’s newest warning to enforce an extra complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he warned to withdraw from a arranged summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements reignited fears of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of official answers to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on electronic components while justifying the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

The official remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused export control measures and “adopted biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government revealed it was tightening export controls on key elements and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the country handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from both governments are being interpreted by some as a method of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a conference in Seoul later this month, will still proceed.