He said bilateral talks, due to resume in Washington later on Friday, were continuing in a very "congenial" way.

The US action, a sharp escalation of the countries' damaging trade war, took tariffs on affected Chinese goods to 25% from 10%.

China said it would retaliate.

It said it "deeply regrets" the move and would have to take "necessary counter-measures". Only recently, the US and China appeared to be close to ending months of trade tensions.

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