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The former US president’s newest threat to introduce an further full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his warning, noting 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 exports of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also warned to cancel a scheduled summit with China’s President President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words revived fears of a trade war between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China incurring an extra import tax compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of formal replies to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused export control measures and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to deal with China,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, China declared it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the state processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a summit in South Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.