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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to impose an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a potential commercial battle.

Last Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earths, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a arranged summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

His statements on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

These statements reignited fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese imports incurring an added import tax compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the format of written responses to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting the country’s own export controls on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure national security and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and other materials vital for 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 goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.