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Trump’s most recent threat to introduce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that China could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

These statements revived apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to press queries – reflected terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on electronic components while justifying the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official said that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earth minerals and other materials critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in items such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a means of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and President Xi, planned at a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.