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The former US president’s most recent ultimatum to impose an further full import duty on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade war.

This past Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in Seoul later this month.

His statements on Friday unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements revived concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Commerce Ministry in the form of formal replies to journalist’s questions – echoed language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” the official commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and other materials critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in Seoul later this month, will still proceed.