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The former US president’s newest ultimatum to impose an extra full import duty on products from China has been described as a “classic case” of US double standards, per the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry further commented that the nation could implement its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “not afraid” of a potential commercial battle.

This past Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to reinforce its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing China of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged summit with China’s President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on that day rattled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

These statements revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the two economic giants.

Earlier this year, the two sides had reached an agreement to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an added import tax compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China incur a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of formal replies to media inquiries – mirrored language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned United States controls on semiconductors and chips while justifying the country’s own overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson said that for “many years”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “adopted biased policies against China.

“Using” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with Beijing,” the official said.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has remained consistent: we do not want one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, China revealed it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in items such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a means of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, expected at a conference in the Republic of Korea before month’s end, will take place as planned.