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Donald Trump’s latest threat to introduce an additional complete levy on items imported from China has been called a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that the nation could enact its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant follows through on his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

He also vowed to cancel a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index dropping 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements revived apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods subject to an extra import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced United States controls on electronic components while defending the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of all nations.

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

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with China,” the spokesperson stated.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and further resources critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation processes about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in goods such as solar panels and mobile phones.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by some as a means of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, expected at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.