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Donald Trump’s newest ultimatum to introduce an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been labeled a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, per the Beijing administration.

A representative of the ministry also stated that China could enact its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the American leader executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its policies for exports of rare earth minerals, accusing the Chinese leadership of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

He also vowed to cancel a arranged talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on that day unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements reignited apprehensions of a trade war between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had consented to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, American import duties on products from China facing an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – released by the relevant government department in the format of formal replies to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to safeguard domestic safety and that of every country.

Their representative stated that for “an extended period”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” the spokesperson commented.

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

The previous week, China announced it was strengthening export controls on key elements and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a significant step, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in products such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from both governments are being viewed by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, expected at a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month, will take place as planned.