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Donald Trump’s newest threat to enforce an extra full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also vowed to pull out of a arranged talks with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

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

This past spring, the both nations had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an added 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on electronic components while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earths as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited export control measures and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson commented.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was strengthening export controls on key elements and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation handles about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.