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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to impose an extra full import duty on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could enact its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, charging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Additionally, he warned to cancel a planned meeting with China’s President Xi, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on Friday unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

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

This past spring, the both nations had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an extra 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting China’s own export controls on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard national security and that of every country.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in products such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being seen by some as a means of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.