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Trump’s latest threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a looming commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to pull out of a scheduled summit with China’s President President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements revived concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese imports incurring an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the country face a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to press queries – reflected terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “standard procedures” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with China,” the spokesperson said.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in items such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, planned at a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.