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Donald Trump’s newest warning to enforce an further complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the American leader carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also vowed to withdraw from a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a meeting in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on that day unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to media inquiries – mirrored rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned United States controls on electronic components while defending the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official said that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the spokesperson commented.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has consistently been unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening export controls on rare earth minerals and other materials critical for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

The recent comments from the US and China are being interpreted by observers as a means of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and President Xi, planned at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.