In separate calls with the British and Austrian foreign ministers, China’s top diplomat has accused Washington of weaponising tariffs, and urged Europe to join hands with Beijing to defend the multilateral trading system.

The practice “regresses state-to-state relations to the law of the jungle”, Wang said, adding that it was “a step backward in history, unpopular and unsustainable”, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

“As a responsible nation, China stands up to stop this behaviour, not only to protect its own legitimate rights and interests but also to uphold international rules and safeguard the multilateral trading system,” he said.

“China will continue to adhere to a high level of opening up, carrying out mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with all countries, and share development opportunities with the world.”

As governments scramble to respond to the changing trade arrangements, Beijing has been ramping up its efforts to win support amid rising frictions with Washington, which so far has imposed tariffs of 145 per cent on most goods arriving in the US from China.