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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to introduce an further 100% tariff on items imported from China has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his warning, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he warned to pull out of a arranged talks with China’s President President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on that day shook global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

His comments renewed fears of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

The official stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with the Chinese government,” their representative stated.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state handles about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, expected at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.