CHINESE officials have played down the threat to their country’s economy from US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, saying today that Beijing has the capacity to protect jobs and limit the potential damage.

They also reiterated Beijing’s refusal to be intimidated by Washington’s aggressive attitude, with Zhao Chenxin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, the main economic planning agency, condemning US officials who “make up bargaining chips out of thin air, bully and go back on their words."

After placing combined tariffs of up to 145 per cent on goods imported from China, Mr Trump said last week that he was already negotiating with the Chinese government over the tariffs, but US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted that such talks had yet to start.