China is facing a double whammy: corrosive deflation and tariffs that threaten to block trade. Chinese workers will be the biggest casualties.

In a Tuesday social media post, President Donald Trump claimed he will protect farmers and said he recognizes he had to support them financially during his first administration after they were hit by a trade war with China.

If the United States continues to play the "tariff numbers game", China will pay no attention to it, China's foreign ministry said on Thursday.