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Donald Trump’s newest threat to introduce an further full import duty on Chinese goods has been called a “prime illustration” of US double standards, according to the Chinese government.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own unspecified “responsive actions” if the White House occupant executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a potential commercial battle.

Last Friday, Donald Trump hit back at China’s decision to tighten its regulations for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the international market “captive”.

He also threatened to pull out of a arranged summit with Beijing’s head of state Xi, which was set for a summit in the Republic of Korea in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday unsettled stock exchanges, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments reignited concerns of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the both nations had agreed to remove high import duties on each other’s imports, which had created the possibility of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.

This left, United States levies on Chinese goods facing an extra 30% levy compared with the year’s onset, while US goods entering China incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of written responses to media inquiries – mirrored language from the peak of the recent trade conflict.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on electronic components while defending China’s own overseas sale regulations on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.

Their representative said that for “many years”, the America had “overstretched the concept of national security, exploited export control measures and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with the Chinese government,” the spokesperson commented.

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

Last week, Beijing declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and other materials vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

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

New remarks from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a method of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.