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The former US president’s latest ultimatum to enforce an extra full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could introduce its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant follows through on his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for exports of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index dropping nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

These statements reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on products from China subject to an extra import tax compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country are subject to a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to media inquiries – mirrored language from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the United States had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with Beijing,” the spokesperson commented.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances critical for high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the state refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.