Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Beijing

Washington, June 15: US President Donald Trump on Friday announced tariffs of 25 per cent targeting tens of billions in Chinese imports, sparking immediate retaliation from Beijing and bringing the world’s two largest economies to the brink of an all- out trade war feared by markets and industry.

Making good on a pledge to punish the alleged theft of American intellectual property, Mr Trump warned in a statement of “additional tariffs” if China hits back with titfortat duties on American goods and services exports.

At least initially, though, the new tariffs will not cover the full $ 50 billion in trade that the White House had threatened in March.

Washington, June 15: US President Donald Trump said Friday that “it’s possible” he’ll meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this summer, as he held forth with reporters on the White House driveway in an impromptu interview and gaggle.

Mr Trump again made the case that Russia should be allowed to rejoin the Group of Seven industrialized nations while speaking to reporters a day after the release of a Department of Justice internal watchdog report looking into the department's conduct.

"It's much better if we get along with them than if we don't," said Mr Trump, who has repeatedly expressed a willingness to deal with Putin in spite of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and other aggressive acts.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is currently investigating whether Trump's campaign played a role in that effort — an investigation Mr Trump has dismissed as a “witch hunt.”

Russia was invited to join the G- 7 in 1998, turning it into the G- 8. But Putin in 2014 alarmed world leaders after moving troops into eastern Ukraine and invading and annexed Crimea.