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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to enforce an additional full import duty on products from China has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade war.

On Friday, Trump responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, alleging the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on last Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

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

This past spring, the both nations had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an extra import tax compared with the start of the year, while American products entering China face a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Commerce Ministry in the manner of written responses to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect state interests and that of every country.

The spokesperson said that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” discriminatory practices against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson said.

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

Recently, Beijing announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and further resources vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the state refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.