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Trump’s latest ultimatum to enforce an additional full import duty on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible commercial battle.

This past Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for exports of rare earths, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was set for a summit in Seoul later this month.

The former president’s remarks 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 revived concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of formal replies to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China announced it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and further resources critical for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the country handles about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.