Donald Trump’s tariffs tsar has accused Britain of being a “compliant servant of communist China” at risk of having its “blood sucked” dry by Beijing.

Peter Navarro, the president’s economic adviser, said the Government must resist “string-laden gifts” from Beijing and avoid becoming a “dumping ground” for goods that China can no longer sell to the US.

In an intervention set to complicate trade negotiations between Britain and America, he told The Telegraph: “If the Chinese vampire can’t suck the American blood, it’s going to suck the UK blood and the EU blood.”

“This is a very dangerous time for the world economies with respect to exposure to China.”

Like many in the Trump administration, Mr Navarro is suspicious of Chinese investment in British property and infrastructure, as well as its power in UK money markets.

He added: “And let’s face it, the UK has been an all too compliant servant of the Chinese Communist Party because of the string-laden gifts that China gives as a way of spreading its soft power.”

Rachel Reeves and David Lammy have both made high-profile visits to China in recent months as part of the Labour Government’s drive for what they call “pragmatic re-engagement” with Beijing.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary have stressed the need for a stable, balanced relationship with China, something they say could add £1 billion to the UK economy over five years.

There are also fears that the Government might prioritise a deal with the EU, which they hope to agree at a summit on May 19, in a move that could make an agreement with America harder to strike.

Mr Navarro insisted that talks between America and the UK are progressing and added: “We are moving in Trump time, which is to say as swiftly as possible.”