Xi Jinping has urged Vietnam to resist “unilateral bullying” and uphold free and open trade, as he begins a high-stakes diplomatic tour of the region’s major export-reliant economies in a bid to position his country as a stable partner in contrast to the United States.

President Xi Jinping will meet Vietnam's leaders in Hanoi on Monday as he begins a three-nation trip to Southeast Asia, aiming to cement ties with some of China's closest neighbours amid mounting trade tensions with the United States.

The U.K. responded to Trump's tariffs by slashing tariffs on 89 British products in a bid to ease strain on British businesses hit hard by the levied taxes.

The sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump since April 2 and the subsequent pauses on some of them have generated uncertainty for companies worldwide, causing some of them to withdraw or refrain from giving a financial guidance.