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The former US president’s most recent threat to impose an additional full import duty on products from China has been called a “classic case” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to tighten its rules for exports of rare earths, alleging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he warned to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

The president’s words revived fears of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

As a result, United States levies on products from China facing an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country are subject to a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to press queries – mirrored terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

Their representative stated that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the spokesperson stated.

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

Recently, China revealed it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and additional substances critical for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

The recent comments from the US and China are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

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 take place as planned.