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The former US president’s newest warning to introduce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that China could implement its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.

Last Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Additionally, he warned to cancel a scheduled meeting with China’s President Xi, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

His comments revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the two sides had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s goods, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese imports incurring an extra 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of formal replies to journalist’s questions – echoed terminology from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending Beijing’s restrictions on exports on key elements as “routine measures” to protect domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of national security, misused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with Beijing,” their representative stated.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and additional substances vital for high-technology production.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation refines about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are used in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

The recent comments from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a strategy of strengthening positions prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Donald Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.