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Trump’s newest threat to impose an additional 100% tariff on products from China has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, as stated by the China’s leadership.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that Beijing could introduce its own unrevealed “countermeasures” if the US President follows through on his pledge, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a potential trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president hit back at China’s decision to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging China of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a planned meeting with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was set for a summit in Seoul before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on Friday shook global markets, with the benchmark US stock index falling by 2.7%, marking its biggest drop since April.

These statements renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of commerce ceasing between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on products from China incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering the country face a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the relevant government department in the format of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected language from the height of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while justifying Beijing’s overseas sale regulations on key elements as “normal actions” to protect domestic safety and that of all nations.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of state security, misused export control measures and “implemented” biased policies against the Chinese nation.

“Using” tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has remained consistent: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earth minerals and further resources vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in goods such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being interpreted by observers as a strategy of enhancing bargaining power prior to upcoming negotiations.

It is unclear whether a talks between Donald Trump and President Xi, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea later this month, will go ahead.