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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to enforce an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his warning, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

He also warned to pull out of a scheduled meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 falling by nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements revived concerns of a trade war between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to press queries – echoed language from the height of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised US export restrictions on chips and semi-conductors while defending the country’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to safeguard national security and that of the global community.

The official said that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, exploited overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with China,” their representative commented.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has consistently been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the state refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from both governments are being viewed by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a conference in Seoul before month’s end, will take place as planned.