Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief economist Luke Yeaman has warned the economic pain from Donald Trump’s trade disruption will not end soon and tariffs could go higher, as the US president digs in for a protracted fight against China.

Yeaman said Australia was better placed than many countries to withstand the global slowdown, but it would not be spared from the fallout and much would hinge on a hoped-for Chinese infrastructure stimulus propping up demand for commodities such as iron ore.