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Donald Trump’s newest threat to enforce an further 100% tariff on products from China has been described as a “prime illustration” of American hypocrisy, according to the China’s leadership.

A representative of the ministry also stated that China could enact its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his threat, noting that the country was “not afraid” of a looming commercial battle.

Last Friday, Donald Trump responded at Beijing’s move to strengthen its rules for overseas sales of critical elements, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

Furthermore, he threatened to pull out of a arranged talks with China’s President President Xi, which was arranged for a summit in Seoul in the coming weeks.

The former president’s remarks on Friday rattled global markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its steepest fall since last spring.

His comments renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

This past spring, the both nations had agreed to drop significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of trade halting between the two countries.

As a result, US tariffs on Chinese imports subject to an additional import tax compared with the start of the year, while items from the United States entering China face a import levy.

China’s latest remarks – published by the Ministry of Commerce in the manner of official answers to journalist’s questions – reflected language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

Officials denounced American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while defending Beijing’s restrictions on exports on rare earth minerals as “routine measures” to protect national security and that of all nations.

The official remarked that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of domestic safety, abused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Turning to” tariff threats is not the proper method to deal with Beijing,” the official stated.

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

Recently, China declared it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earth minerals and additional substances vital for advanced tech manufacturing.

The action was viewed as a significant step, as the nation processes about ninety percent of the planet’s critical minerals, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and smartphones.

The recent comments from Washington and Beijing are being seen by observers as a means of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a talks between the former president and President Xi, expected at a high-level meeting in Seoul in the coming weeks, will still proceed.