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The former US president’s newest threat to impose 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 Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to withdraw from a arranged summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks.

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

The president’s words reignited fears of a trade war between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on products from China incurring an extra import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country are subject to a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

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

“China’s position on a tariff war has consistently been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, China declared it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.