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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its regulations for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on Friday shook financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments revived apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

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

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening export controls on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

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

The recent comments from both governments are being interpreted by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.