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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to enforce an additional complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, alleging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged meeting with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in Seoul later this month.

His statements on that day shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words renewed fears of a trade war between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on products from China subject to an added 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – mirrored terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of every country.

The official said that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against Beijing.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to deal with Beijing,” the official stated.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances essential to cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a means of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.