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The former US president’s newest threat to enforce an extra 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that the nation could implement its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade conflict.

Last Friday, Trump responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its regulations for foreign shipments of critical elements, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the two sides had consented to drop significant levies on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on products from China subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to media inquiries – reflected language from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to engage with China,” the official said.

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

Recently, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing export controls on rare earth minerals and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state handles about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being seen by observers as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.