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Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could implement its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

This past Friday, Trump responded at China’s decision to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Additionally, he warned to cancel a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in Seoul later this month.

His statements on that day shook global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

This past spring, the two sides had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese goods subject to an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to press queries – mirrored language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while defending China’s own export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure domestic safety and that of every country.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing announced it was reinforcing export controls on key elements and other materials vital for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country handles about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

The recent comments from both governments are being interpreted by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.