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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of US double standards, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade war.

Last Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Additionally, he warned to withdraw from a scheduled talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since April.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

In May, the both nations had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while American products entering China face a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of formal replies to journalist’s questions – mirrored rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while justifying China’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the state processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.