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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to enforce an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that the nation could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his warning, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, alleging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had consented to eliminate high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the format of formal replies to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced United States controls on electronic components while defending China’s own export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of the global community.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to interact with Beijing,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.