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The former US president’s newest threat to impose an further 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that China could introduce its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming commercial battle.

This past Friday, the former president responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

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

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on products from China subject to an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country incur a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” the spokesperson said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in goods such as solar panels and handheld devices.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being seen by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.