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The former US president’s most recent warning to introduce an further complete levy on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, as stated by the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that the nation could implement its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his pledge, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade conflict.

This past Friday, the former president retaliated at the Chinese government’s action to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he warned to cancel a planned talks with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was arranged for a summit in South Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday shook global markets, with the S&P 500 closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

His comments revived concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to eliminate high import duties on each other’s imports, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

As a result, American import duties on products from China subject to an extra import tax compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering the Chinese market incur a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the format of official answers to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson remarked that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of national security, abused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against Beijing.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the correct approach to interact with the Chinese government,” the official stated.

“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has always been unchanging: we wish to avoid one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, China announced it was tightening export controls on rare earth minerals and further resources essential to high-technology production.

This was seen as a significant step, as the state handles about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

New remarks from both governments are being seen by observers as a method of bolstering negotiating stances in preparation for upcoming negotiations.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s leader, expected at a conference in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks, will still proceed.