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The former US president’s newest warning to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President executes his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at China’s decision to strengthen its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Additionally, he warned to cancel a planned meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words revived apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, United States levies on Chinese imports facing an added 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of formal replies to press queries – echoed rhetoric from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised United States controls on semiconductors and chips while defending Beijing’s export controls on rare earth minerals as “standard procedures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

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

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

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

Latest statements from both governments are being seen by analysts as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a high-level meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.