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Trump’s newest threat to impose an additional full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of US double standards, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to pull out of a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on last Friday shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since April.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the country face a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

Their representative stated that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and further resources vital for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the state refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being viewed by some as a means of strengthening positions in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.