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The former US president’s latest warning to introduce an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its regulations for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to withdraw from a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since April.

The president’s words reignited concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese imports facing an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected language from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while supporting Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The official stated that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with Beijing,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has remained consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the state refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by observers as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.