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The former US president’s most recent warning to enforce an additional complete levy on products from China has been called a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could implement its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the US President follows through on his threat, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for exports of rare earth minerals, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

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

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words reignited fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the both nations had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an extra import tax compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the form of formal replies to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while defending the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure national security and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with China,” their representative commented.

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

Recently, China announced it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials vital for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being viewed by some as a method of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.