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Donald Trump’s newest warning to enforce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade war.

On Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its regulations for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

His statements on last Friday unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

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

This past spring, the two sides had agreed to eliminate triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on products from China facing an extra 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market are subject to a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to media inquiries – reflected terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

The official said that for “many years”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, misused export control measures and “implemented” discriminatory practices against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing announced it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and further resources critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by some as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.