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The former US president’s most recent threat to impose an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to cancel a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since April.

The president’s words renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an additional 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the country face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of written responses to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

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

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of national security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with China,” their representative commented.

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

Recently, Beijing announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by some as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and President Xi, planned at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.