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The former US president’s latest threat to introduce an extra complete levy on products from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for exports of rare earths, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a scheduled summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on that day unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to drop significant levies on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market are subject to a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of official answers to press queries – echoed language from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting Beijing’s export controls on rare earths as “standard procedures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, misused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” their representative stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in items such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a means of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.