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The former US president’s most recent threat to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that the nation could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a arranged meeting with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

His comments renewed concerns of a trade conflict between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an extra import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – mirrored language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying China’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard national security and that of every country.

Their representative remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson stated.

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

Recently, Beijing declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on key elements and other materials critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a method of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.