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Donald Trump’s most recent ultimatum to enforce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the US President executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president responded at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for overseas sales of rare earths, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the world “captive”.

Additionally, he warned to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

His statements on last Friday rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments reignited apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on Chinese goods incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The official said that for “an extended period”, the US had “broadened the definition” of state security, exploited export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to engage with China,” their representative stated.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has remained consistent: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on key elements and further resources essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a important measure, as the nation handles about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and China’s leader, expected at a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.