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Donald Trump’s most recent threat to introduce an extra complete levy on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader executes his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also vowed to pull out of a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

His comments renewed fears of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the both nations had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on products from China incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China face a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while supporting Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of every country.

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

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to engage with the Chinese government,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from both governments are being seen by some as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between the former president and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea later this month, will still proceed.