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Trump’s latest warning to impose an further 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that China could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a looming commercial battle.

On Friday, the former president responded at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, alleging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Furthermore, he warned to pull out of a arranged meeting with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in South Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index dropping over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

The president’s words renewed apprehensions of a trade war between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the both nations had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of formal replies to press queries – echoed language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own export controls on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure national security and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to deal with Beijing,” the official commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has remained unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Last week, China declared it was strengthening export controls on rare earths and further resources essential to cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the state processes about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in items such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a conference in Seoul in the coming weeks, will go ahead.