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Donald Trump’s latest warning to introduce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that Beijing could enact its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the US President carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade war.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he warned to withdraw from a arranged summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

The president’s words renewed concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending China’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The official stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative stated.

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

The previous week, China declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the state processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

The recent comments from both governments are being seen by some as a method of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month, will go ahead.