Vietnam and the US agreed to start negotiations on a “reciprocal” trade deal, with the breakthrough coming just hours after Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on higher tariffs.

The United States and Vietnam agreed to start talks for a trade agreement, the Vietnamese government said on Thursday, hours after the U.S. paused the implementation of global "reciprocal" tariffs, including a 46% levy on Vietnam.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday inserted himself directly into trade talks with Japanese officials, a sign of the high stakes for the United States after its tariffs rattled the economy and caused the administration to assure the public that it would quickly reach deals.