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Donald Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an further full import duty on products from China has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the American leader carries out his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for exports of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on Friday shook stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements revived apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the both nations had consented to remove significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country incur a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to media inquiries – reflected language from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while supporting Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

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

Recently, Beijing announced it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and additional substances vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the state refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by some as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.