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The former US president’s newest warning to introduce an additional complete levy on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements revived concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of formal replies to press queries – echoed terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on electronic components while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a tariff war has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and further resources critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation processes about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.