China’s Foreign Ministry has summoned United States Ambassador to Beijing Terry Branstad to protest the passing in the US Congress of a bill related to Hong Kong and to demand an end to American meddling in the country’s internal affairs.

US President Donald Trump’s trade war cost the US economy $7.8 billion in lost gross domestic product in 2018, according to a study by a team of economists at leading American universities.

A fierce global trade war would significantly hurt the economy of the United States, making households poorer and destroying jobs, while China would not suffer as much, according to a new report by the European Central Bank.

China accused the United States on Monday of using false accusations on trade to “intimidate” other countries, as the tariff battle between the global giants intensifies.

US President Donald Trump has reportedly instructed aides to proceed with tariffs on around $200 billion of Chinese goods, in spite of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s attempts to resume trade talks with China.

"Choosing a trade war is surely the wrong prescription, in the end you will only hurt others and yourself," foreign minister Wang Yi said during a press conference, adding that "China will certainly make an appropriate and necessary response."