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Trump’s most recent threat to introduce an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that the nation could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

Last Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Additionally, he warned to withdraw from a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to press queries – reflected language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while defending the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard national security and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, abused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on key elements and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by analysts as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and China’s leader, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.