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The former US president’s newest warning to introduce an further full import duty on items imported from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a possible trade war.

Last Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to tighten its rules for exports of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

He also vowed to withdraw from a scheduled talks with China’s President President Xi, which was expected to take place during a meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 falling by over two and a half percent, marking its biggest drop since last spring.

The president’s words reignited fears of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, American import duties on products from China facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while American products entering China are subject to a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the format of formal replies to journalist’s questions – mirrored terminology from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

The official stated that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “implemented” biased policies against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the right way to interact with China,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a tariff war has remained unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and further resources critical for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the country handles about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by analysts as a method of strengthening positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will go ahead.