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Trump’s newest threat to enforce an further 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that the nation could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President carries out his warning, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for exports of critical elements, accusing the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to cancel a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in South Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments revived concerns of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had reached an agreement to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while justifying the country’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard national security and that of every country.

Their representative remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials vital for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the country handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from both governments are being interpreted by analysts as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.