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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to tighten its rules for exports of critical elements, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a scheduled talks with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

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

This past spring, the both nations had agreed to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the manner of written responses to press queries – echoed language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with China,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a tariff war has remained consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and China’s leader, planned at a summit in Seoul later this month, will still proceed.