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Donald Trump’s newest warning to enforce an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the American leader carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 dropping over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on products from China incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering China are subject to a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

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

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

Last week, Beijing announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation handles about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a method of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, expected at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.