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Trump’s most recent threat to enforce an further 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader carries out his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade war.

On Friday, the former president hit back at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in South Korea later this month.

His statements on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

This past spring, the both nations had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to 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 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while defending Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earths as “standard procedures” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, misused export control measures and “implemented” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to engage with China,” their representative stated.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and further resources critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the state handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being interpreted by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.