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The former US president’s newest warning to introduce an further complete levy on items imported from China has been called a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, charging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a planned summit with China’s President Xi, which was set for a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday shook financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments reignited fears of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to drop high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on products from China incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering China incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of official answers to journalist’s questions – mirrored language from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

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

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused export control measures and “implemented” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to interact with Beijing,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has remained unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, Beijing revealed it was tightening export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country handles about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by analysts as a method of strengthening positions in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.