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Donald Trump’s latest warning to introduce an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that the nation could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the American leader follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements reignited apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

In May, the two sides had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on products from China subject to an added 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering China are subject to a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

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

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with Beijing,” the spokesperson stated.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has always been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country processes about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

The recent comments from both governments are being viewed by some as a method of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.