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Trump’s newest ultimatum to impose an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade war.

On Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its policies for exports of critical elements, alleging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

The president’s words renewed fears of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove significant levies on each other’s goods, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese goods incurring an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the country face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the US had “broadened the definition” of national security, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with Beijing,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the country processes about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by observers as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, scheduled at a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.