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Donald Trump’s most recent warning to introduce an further 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that China could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earths, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments revived fears of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had consented to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China are subject to a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to press queries – echoed terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to ensure domestic safety and that of every country.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” discriminatory practices against China.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with China,” the spokesperson commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was tightening export controls on key elements and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the state refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by observers as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.