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The former US president’s newest threat to impose an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the American leader follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also threatened to cancel a scheduled summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on that day unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an added 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country incur a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with Beijing,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was tightening export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state handles about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in products such as solar panels and handheld devices.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a method of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and China’s leader, planned at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.