Last-minute phone calls pull the North American neighbours back from the brink of a trade war, but the US is still targeting Chinese imports.

The pauses—which allow a period of negotiations over drug trafficking and border security—provide a cool-down period after a tumultuous few days that put North America on the cusp of a trade war.

U.S. tariffs of 10% on Chinese imports came into effect on Tuesday, risking a renewed trade war between the world's top two economies as President Donald Trumppunishes China for not halting the flow of illicit drugs.