PAUSING CHAOS

90-day halt to tariffs after countries 'lined up to kiss ass' | But trade war on China steps up with 125% import duties

- LOUISE BURNE

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has climbed down on his tariffs and began a 90-day pause after he claimed countries had lined up to "kiss his ass".

It was unclear last night on whether the EU would be classified as having not retaliated as member states had voted just hours before to implement countermeasures in response to tariffs on steel and aluminium.

They were due to be implemented in phases from April 15 but the European Commission said this could be "lifted at any time, should a fair and balanced negotiated solution be found".

RETALIATED

In a post on social media, Trump said: "Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the world's markets, I am hereby raising the tariff charged to China to 125%.

"At some point, China will realize that the days of ripping off the USA and other Countries is no longer sustainable or acceptable.

"Conversely, and based on the fact more than 75 countries have called to negotiate and they have not retaliated, I have authorized a 90-day pause and a substantially lowered reciprocal tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately."

Chinese President Xi Jinping responded immediately with 84% levies of its own on US exports. Here ministers and other sources said Trump's message was unclear.