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The former US president’s most recent threat to enforce an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at China’s decision to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also warned to cancel a planned meeting with Chinese leader President Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

The president’s words renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese imports incurring an additional 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with China,” the spokesperson said.

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

Recently, China revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.