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The former US president’s newest warning to enforce an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “classic case” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “countermeasures” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade war.

Last Friday, Trump retaliated at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for foreign shipments of rare earths, charging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

He also threatened to withdraw from a planned talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was set for a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

Trump’s comments on Friday unsettled financial markets, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since earlier this year.

His comments revived fears of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the respective governments had reached an agreement to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two countries.

This left, US tariffs on Chinese goods subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the Chinese market face a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of official answers to press queries – echoed terminology from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

They criticised United States controls on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on rare earths as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

The official said that for “a long time”, the America had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused overseas sale restrictions and “adopted unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the right way to interact with China,” the official said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has remained steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are not afraid of one.”

Last week, China announced it was strengthening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials vital for cutting-edge industry.

The action was viewed as a key move, as the nation refines about ninety percent of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in items such as solar panels and mobile phones.

Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by some as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for future trade talks.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a conference in South Korea later this month, will still proceed.