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The former US president’s latest threat to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “classic case” of US double standards, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could introduce its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the US President carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for exports of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also threatened to pull out of a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on last Friday shook stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an added 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – published by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to media inquiries – echoed language from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with China,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained consistent: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and further resources essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the state refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

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