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Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to introduce an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of United States’ contradictory behavior, according to the Chinese government.

A representative of the ministry further commented that Beijing could enact its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the US President executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade war.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also warned to withdraw from a scheduled meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

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

In May, the both nations had consented to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

This left, United States levies on products from China subject to an added import tax compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country face a 10% tariff.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the relevant government department in the manner of formal replies to press queries – reflected terminology from the zenith of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of all nations.

Their representative remarked that for “a long time”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, exploited export control measures and “enforced” biased policies against China.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to engage with Beijing,” their representative said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has always been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing export controls on rare earth minerals and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country handles about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of strengthening positions ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a talks between Trump and Xi Jinping, planned at a summit in Seoul later this month, will take place as planned.