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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to impose an additional full import duty on items imported from China has been called a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President executes his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

Last Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged summit with China’s President Xi, which was set for a meeting in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments renewed concerns of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

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

Officials denounced United States controls on semiconductors and chips while supporting China’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “broadened the definition” of state security, abused export control measures and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

Latest statements from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.