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Trump’s latest ultimatum to enforce an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson further commented that China could enact its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the US President follows through on his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.

This past Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for exports of rare earth minerals, alleging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a scheduled talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in the Republic of Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on that day shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its largest decline since earlier this year.

These statements revived concerns of a trade war between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had reached an agreement to eliminate significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two nations.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports subject to an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – published by the relevant government department in the form of formal replies to journalist’s questions – echoed language from the zenith of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced United States controls on electronic components while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of every country.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Using” tariff threats is not the right way to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“The nation’s view” on a tariff war has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, Beijing announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances critical for cutting-edge industry.

This was seen as a key move, as the state handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in goods such as renewable energy components and handheld devices.

Latest statements from the US and China are being interpreted by analysts as a means of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between the former president and Xi Jinping, planned at a conference in South Korea before month’s end, will go ahead.