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The former US president’s latest threat to introduce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “classic case” of US double standards, as stated by the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that China could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade war.

On Friday, Donald Trump responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he warned to withdraw from a planned summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its largest decline since April.

His comments revived concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

This past spring, the both nations had reached an agreement to drop high import duties on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

Consequently, American import duties on Chinese goods subject to an extra import tax compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country incur a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of written responses to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while supporting the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The spokesperson stated that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” unfair treatments against China.

“Using” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to deal with China,” the official commented.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has consistently been consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing declared it was strengthening export controls on key elements and other materials essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a significant step, as the nation refines about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

New remarks from the US and China are being seen by observers as a method of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul later this month, will still proceed.