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Donald Trump’s newest warning to impose an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments revived fears of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering China are subject to a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to press queries – echoed language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to engage with China,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the state refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in products such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month, will take place as planned.