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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to introduce an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could enact its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Additionally, he threatened to cancel a planned meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the both nations had reached an agreement to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese imports incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering China incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to media inquiries – echoed language from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused export control measures and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative stated.

“China’s position on a tariff war has always been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, Beijing announced it was tightening export controls on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

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

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and President Xi, expected at a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month, will take place as planned.