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Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his warning, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

He also threatened to cancel a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since April.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods facing an additional 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China incur a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to press queries – reflected terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “normal actions” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

The official said that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was tightening export controls on key elements and further resources vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.