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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to impose an further complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged meeting with Chinese leader Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

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

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports facing an additional import tax compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to press queries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, abused export control measures and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

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

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has remained consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country processes about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by some as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between the former president and President Xi, scheduled at a summit in Seoul later this month, will still proceed.