By targeting allies and neighbours with tariffs, the US is playing into the hands of China. “Our strategy on tariffs will be to shoot first and ask questions later.” That was what one of Donald Trump’s key economic policymakers told me late last year.

China has reiterated it could take “necessary countermeasures" after U.S. President Donald Trump decided to impose a 10% tariff on China for allegedly doing too little to stem the production of precursor chemicals for the drug fentanyl.

China has imposed targeted tariffs on US imports and put several companies, including Google, on notice for possible sanctions, in a measured response to the sweeping duties on Chinese imports imposed by President Donald Trump.

America's closest neighbors and allies are racing to respond, or bracing for impact as Trump orders big tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China.

By Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt and Kevin Krolicki WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he is in no hurry to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to defuse a new trade war between the world's two largest economies sparked by his sweeping 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports.