US tariff pause: Trump tries to unite the world against China, calm stock markets

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April 2017. Donald Trump announced on April 9 that China’s tariff rate had been increased to a total of 125 per cent. - AFP

WASHINGTON: Was it about isolating China or calming the markets? Or both?

Whatever the case, President Donald Trump stunned the world with his abrupt decision to escalate the trade war against America’s biggest rival and postpone the high tariffs imposed on allies.