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Donald Trump’s newest ultimatum to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that the nation could implement its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his pledge, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country incur a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – released by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to press queries – reflected language from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official said that for “many years”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

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

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

Recently, the Chinese government announced it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation handles about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.