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Trump’s latest threat to impose an further complete levy on products from China has been labeled a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earths, charging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on last Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words renewed fears of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the respective governments had consented to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an added 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to press queries – mirrored terminology from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

The official remarked that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with China,” the spokesperson commented.

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

Last week, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances vital for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

Latest statements from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and President Xi, planned at a summit in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.