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

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could implement its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Additionally, he warned to cancel a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering China incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – mirrored language from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while justifying Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of every country.

Their representative stated that for “a long time”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, exploited export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against China.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with China,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was tightening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and other materials critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation handles about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in products such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from both governments are being interpreted by observers as a means of bolstering negotiating stances prior to future trade talks.

It is unclear whether a talks between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will still proceed.