The US-China trade war intensified Thursday, sending the global economy into unknown territory and dampening relief after President Donald Trump’s earlier climbdown from a wider tariff onslaught against the rest of the world. This was because latest tariff hike comes on top of a 20 percent tariff already imposed earlier. However, his retreat from more damaging levies against European countries prompted the EU to pause plans for its own retaliation. But realization that Trump’s splashy about-face on Wednesday masked the reality of a surging trade war with China dampened spirits. Vietnam said it had agreed with the United States to start trade talks, while Pakistan is sending a delegation to Washington.