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The former US president’s newest threat to impose an additional complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that China could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President follows through on his pledge, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president responded at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of rare earths, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also threatened to pull out of a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul later this month.

His statements on last Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since April.

These statements revived apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

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

As a result, United States levies on Chinese imports facing an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the country incur a ten percent duty.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of formal replies to journalist’s questions – echoed language from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of all nations.

The official said that for “many years”, the US had “broadened the definition” of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” biased policies against Beijing.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to deal with the Chinese government,” the official said.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has always been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, China declared it was strengthening export controls on key elements and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the country refines about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in products such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by observers as a method of strengthening positions ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.