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Trump’s latest threat to introduce an further full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to strengthen its regulations for exports of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a planned talks with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements revived concerns of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on products from China subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting China’s own export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

The official said that for “a long time”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with China,” the spokesperson commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, Beijing announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on key elements and further resources vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and smartphones.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.