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Trump’s most recent warning to impose an further full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that China could introduce its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day shook stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since April.

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

This past spring, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering China incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the format of written responses to media inquiries – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on electronic components while supporting Beijing’s export controls on rare earths as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of every country.

The official said that for “many years”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to interact with China,” the official said.

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

Last week, China declared it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on key elements and further resources vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from both governments are being interpreted by some as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.