Trump's tariff threat to China pulls down global commodity prices

Jitters already felt in crude, farm goods and base metals; US aims at heart of chinese economy; Beijing's retaliation could have tailspin effect on global trade

Prices of industrial, farm and energy commodities declined sharply on Monday, amid fears of resumption of the global trade war, after United States president Donald Trump talked of raising tariffs sharply on Chinese goods this week and derailed trade talks between the world’s two largest economies. Commodity prices had fallen sharply last Friday as well.

After hitting a month's low of $68.79 a barrel, Brent crude recovered marginally to trade at $69.78 a barrel on Monday. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures declined by $1.11 to trade at $60.83 a barrel in the opening session. Apart from globally traded