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Trump’s latest ultimatum to enforce an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade conflict.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also warned to pull out of a scheduled talks with China’s President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, American import duties on products from China facing an additional 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to media inquiries – mirrored rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own export controls on rare earths as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” their representative stated.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening export controls on rare earths and further resources critical for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

Latest statements from both governments are being seen by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month, will go ahead.