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Donald Trump’s newest threat to impose an further full import duty on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade war.

On Friday, Donald Trump responded at China’s decision to strengthen its policies for overseas sales of critical elements, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a scheduled meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on last Friday unsettled global markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

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

In May, the respective governments had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China subject to an extra import tax compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced United States controls on electronic components while justifying China’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure national security and that of all nations.

The official remarked that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of national security, misused export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the proper method to engage with Beijing,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a tariff war has remained unchanging: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Recently, Beijing revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and further resources critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation refines about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul before month’s end, will take place as planned.