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Trump’s most recent warning to introduce an further 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the China’s leadership.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the American leader executes his threat, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a potential trade war.

This past Friday, Donald Trump retaliated at Beijing’s move to tighten its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, charging Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also vowed to withdraw from a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea later this month.

His statements on Friday shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.

These statements reignited concerns of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to eliminate high import duties on each other’s goods, which had led to concerns of trade halting between the two nations.

This left, US tariffs on products from China incurring an extra thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering China are subject to a 10% tariff.

China’s latest remarks – issued by the relevant government department in the manner of written responses to press queries – mirrored rhetoric from the peak of the ongoing trade dispute.

Officials denounced US export restrictions on semiconductors and chips while justifying China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “an extended period”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, misused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” unfair treatments against China.

“Turning to” import duty warnings is not the correct approach to deal with the Chinese government,” their representative said.

“China’s position on a import duty dispute has always been consistent: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government announced it was reinforcing overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation refines about the vast majority of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as solar panels and smartphones.

The recent comments from both governments are being viewed by analysts as a method of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a summit between Trump and President Xi, planned at a summit in the Republic of Korea later this month, will take place as planned.