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Donald Trump’s most recent warning to enforce an additional complete levy on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that the nation could implement its own unrevealed “retaliatory steps” if the US President carries out his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its policies for foreign shipments of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled summit with Chinese leader Xi, which was arranged for a meeting in Seoul before the month ends.

His statements on that day unsettled stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

His comments revived apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

This past spring, the respective governments had agreed to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an extra import tax compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting the country’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The official stated that for “many years”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, abused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to engage with the Chinese government,” their representative commented.

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been unchanging: we are not seeking one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, Beijing announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a important measure, as the nation handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in products such as solar panels and handheld devices.

The recent comments from the US and China are being viewed by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.