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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to enforce an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that China could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the American leader carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming commercial battle.

This past Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for exports of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he warned to pull out of a scheduled summit with China’s President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in Seoul later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the two sides had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an extra import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to press queries – echoed terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard state interests and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the right way to deal with Beijing,” the official said.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

The recent comments from both governments are being seen by analysts as a means of enhancing bargaining power prior to upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.