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Donald Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his threat, adding that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade war.

On Friday, Trump hit back at China’s decision to reinforce its rules for exports of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the world “hostage”.

He also threatened to cancel a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a trade conflict between the US and China.

In May, the two sides had agreed to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering China incur a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – mirrored language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying China’s own export controls on key elements as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, misused export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” tariff threats is not the correct approach to engage with China,” the spokesperson said.

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

The previous week, China revealed it was reinforcing foreign shipment restrictions on key elements and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the state refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in products such as solar panels and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being viewed by analysts as a means of strengthening positions prior to future trade talks.

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