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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to impose an extra complete levy on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that China could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his pledge, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its rules for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “captive”.

Furthermore, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled talks with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

His comments revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to eliminate significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

This left, American import duties on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market are subject to a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

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

Last week, Beijing declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and further resources critical for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the country processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in products such as solar panels and smartphones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.