China seeks allies in its tariffs battle with US

CHINA is reaching out to other nations as the United States layers on more tariffs, in what appears to be an attempt to form a united front to compel Washington to retreat.

- CHRISTOPHER BODEEN

Days into the effort, it is meeting only partial success, with many countries unwilling to ally with the main target of US President Donald Trump's trade war.

Facing the cratering of global markets, Mr Trump on Wednesday backed off his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, saying countries were lining up to negotiate more favourable conditions.

China has refused to seek talks, saying it would “fight to the end” in a tariff war, prompting Mr Trump to further jack up the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%. China has retaliated with tariffs on US goods of 84%, which took effect yesterday.

Mr Trump's move was seemingly an attempt to narrow what had been an unprecedented trade war between the US and most of the world to a showdown between the US and China.