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Trump’s newest ultimatum to introduce an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the American leader executes his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president responded at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a scheduled talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

The president’s words reignited concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of written responses to press queries – echoed terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting the country’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to interact with China,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a tariff war has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation handles about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by analysts as a method of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, expected at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.