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The former US president’s most recent warning to enforce an extra full import duty on products from China has been labeled a “typical example” of US double standards, per the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that the nation could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his threat, adding that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to reinforce its rules for foreign shipments of rare earths, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to withdraw from a planned summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since last spring.

The president’s words reignited apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to drop triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese goods facing an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the Chinese market face a ten percent duty.

Beijing’s recent statements – issued by the Commerce Ministry in the format of formal replies to media inquiries – reflected rhetoric from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure domestic safety and that of all nations.

The spokesperson stated that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused foreign shipment regulations and “implemented” discriminatory practices against China.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to interact with Beijing,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, China revealed it was strengthening export controls on key elements and further resources critical for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the state handles about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in products such as solar panels and handheld devices.

The recent comments from both governments are being viewed by some as a strategy of strengthening positions in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in South Korea later this month, will take place as planned.