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The former US president’s most recent threat to enforce an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to pull out of a arranged meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was set for a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on Friday shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

His comments renewed concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.

In May, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the country face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to journalist’s questions – mirrored terminology from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has always been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, China revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, expected at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.