Washington – President Donald Trump launched a trade war Tuesday against America’s three biggest trading partners, drawing immediate retaliation from Mexico, Canada and China and sending financial markets into a tailspin as the U.S. faced the threat of rekindled inflation and paralyzing uncertainty for business.

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico including a 25 per cent across-the-board levy, with a lower 10 per cent charge on Canadian energy, triggering a continental trade war.