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The former US president’s latest threat to impose an further 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also vowed to cancel a arranged summit with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

His statements on that day shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on products from China facing an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to media inquiries – reflected language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has remained unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and further resources vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state refines about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of future trade talks.

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