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Trump’s latest ultimatum to impose an further full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for exports of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

His statements on Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on products from China subject to an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to press queries – reflected terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own export controls on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with the Chinese government,” their representative stated.

“The nation’s view” on a trade conflict has always been unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the state processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being interpreted by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a talks between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.