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Trump’s latest threat to introduce an extra 100% tariff on items imported from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, alleging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

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

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index falling by over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

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

Earlier this year, the both nations had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods subject to an extra 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of official answers to press queries – echoed terminology from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while supporting China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of the global community.

The official remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, abused export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to deal with China,” the official commented.

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

Recently, China declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a summit in Seoul later this month, will go ahead.