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The former US president’s newest threat to impose an further full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of US double standards, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry additionally remarked that China could implement its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his warning, noting that the country was “fearless” of a possible commercial battle.

This past Friday, Donald Trump responded at China’s decision to tighten its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, alleging China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Additionally, he threatened to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in South Korea before the month ends.

His statements on Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its largest decline since last spring.

The president’s words reignited fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of formal replies to media inquiries – mirrored rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the correct approach to deal with Beijing,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a import duty dispute has consistently been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, China declared it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the state handles about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in items such as solar panels and handheld devices.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by some as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between the former president and President Xi, planned at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.