The president postponed what appeared to be a looming clash on trade and expressed a willingness to talk business, but he remains critical of Beijing.

US President Donald Trump has said he is considering imposing a 10% tariff on imports of Chinese-made goods as soon as 1 February. Trump said discussions with his administration were "based on the fact that they're sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada".

The Trump administration is discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports. Trump said the EU also has troubling trade surpluses with the United States.

Trump underscored his intention to use tariffs as a tool of international economic policy and an increasingly vital source of government revenue.

For President Xi Jinping, the stage was set for an explosive start to Donald Trump’s presidency, after he campaigned on a promise to punish China with tariffs. Instead, the American leader’s first day back in office bought Beijing some unexpected breathing room.