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Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose an extra full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President follows through on his warning, adding that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a planned summit with Chinese leader President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in Seoul later this month.

His statements on Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the both nations had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China face a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – published by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected rhetoric from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying the country’s own export controls on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “an extended period”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the proper method to deal with China,” the spokesperson stated.

“China’s position on a tariff war has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and other materials essential to cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation processes about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being viewed by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.