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The former US president’s most recent warning to enforce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of US double standards, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President carries out his pledge, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of critical elements, charging Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

He also warned to withdraw from a scheduled meeting with China’s President President Xi, which was set for a meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports facing an additional import tax compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to journalist’s questions – echoed language from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while supporting Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earths as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the US had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against Beijing.

“Resorting to tariff threats is not the correct approach to interact with the Chinese government,” their representative stated.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has consistently been consistent: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and other materials essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the country refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a summit in Seoul later this month, will take place as planned.