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The former US president’s newest warning to introduce an further 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry further commented that China could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the American leader follows through on his warning, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its rules for foreign shipments of rare earth minerals, alleging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “hostage”.

Additionally, he vowed to withdraw from a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

Trump’s comments on last Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 share index dropping nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

The president’s words renewed fears of a trade conflict between the US and China.

This past spring, the two sides had agreed to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

Consequently, US tariffs on Chinese goods subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while American products entering the country face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of written responses to journalist’s questions – reflected terminology from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while supporting China’s own export controls on key elements as “routine measures” to safeguard state interests and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “a long time”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused export control measures and “enforced” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earth minerals and further resources critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a key move, as the country handles about 90% of the world’s rare earths, which are used in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by some as a method of enhancing bargaining power prior to upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and President Xi, expected at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.