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Trump’s newest warning to introduce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Additionally, he warned to cancel a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

These statements renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

In May, the both nations had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an added import tax compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to press queries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

The official stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to engage with China,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the country handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as solar panels and handheld devices.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.