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Donald Trump’s latest ultimatum to introduce an additional full import duty on Chinese goods has been labeled a “typical example” of US double standards, according to the Beijing administration.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson additionally remarked that the nation could introduce its own unspecified “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant carries out his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a looming trade war.

Last Friday, Donald Trump responded at Beijing’s move to tighten its policies for exports of critical elements, charging the Chinese leadership of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the global community “hostage”.

He also vowed to pull out of a planned talks with Chinese leader President Xi, which was expected to take place during a conference in South Korea later this month.

The former president’s remarks on last Friday shook stock exchanges, with the benchmark US stock index closing down over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since earlier this year.

These statements reignited fears of a commercial dispute between the US and China.

In May, the respective governments had reached an agreement to drop high import duties on each other’s products, which had led to concerns of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

Consequently, United States levies on Chinese goods subject to an added import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering China incur a import levy.

Beijing’s recent statements – released by the Ministry of Commerce in the form of official answers to media inquiries – echoed language from the peak of the latest commercial tensions.

The remarks condemned United States controls on chips and semi-conductors while supporting Beijing’s restrictions on exports on key elements as “normal actions” to protect state interests and that of all nations.

The spokesperson said that for “an extended period”, the United States had “expanded the interpretation” of national security, exploited foreign shipment regulations and “adopted biased policies against Beijing.

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

“China’s position on a trade conflict has consistently been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

Last week, China declared it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and additional substances critical for high-technology production.

This was seen as a key move, as the state refines about the vast majority of the planet’s critical minerals, which are utilized in goods such as photovoltaic modules and handheld devices.

New remarks from both governments are being interpreted by analysts as a method of enhancing bargaining power ahead of forthcoming discussions.

It is unclear whether a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, scheduled at a high-level meeting in Seoul later this month, will take place as planned.