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Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to impose an additional 100% tariff on items imported from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of United States’ contradictory behavior, per the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry further commented that the nation could introduce its own undisclosed “countermeasures” if the US President executes his threat, noting that the country was “fearless” of a potential trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president hit back at Beijing’s move to tighten its regulations for exports of rare earths, charging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “under its control”.

Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a scheduled meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was expected to take place during a conference in Seoul before the month ends.

The former president’s remarks on Friday unsettled global markets, with the S&P 500 falling by 2.7%, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a trade conflict between the two economic giants.

In May, the respective governments had agreed to remove triple-digit tariffs on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on products from China facing an additional 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the Chinese market are subject to a ten percent duty.

China’s latest remarks – released by the Commerce Ministry in the format of written responses to media inquiries – echoed terminology from the zenith of the ongoing trade dispute.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while justifying Beijing’s restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to safeguard national security and that of the global community.

The spokesperson remarked that for “many years”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited export control measures and “enforced” discriminatory practices against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” the official said.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we do not want one, but we are unafraid of one.”

The previous week, Beijing declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on key elements and additional substances essential to advanced tech manufacturing.

This was seen as a key move, as the country handles about 90% of the global rare earth supply, which are employed in products such as solar panels and smartphones.

Latest statements from the US and China are being viewed by some as a means of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

Is not yet known whether a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.