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Trump’s latest threat to impose an further full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, as stated by the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

He also warned to pull out of a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in the Republic of Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, American import duties on products from China subject to an added 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to media inquiries – mirrored language 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 “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the America had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to engage with China,” the official said.

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

Last week, China announced it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the state handles about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, expected at a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.