Asian shares dither, U.S. dollar falls as trade angst persists amid tariffs [Video]

Asia shares edged cautiously higher on Tuesday while the U.S. dollar fell to a six-week low as the country’s erratic trade policies clouded over markets and investors turned defensive ahead of key developments later in the week.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will likely speak this week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, days after Trump accused China of violating an agreement to roll back tariffs and trade restrictions.

The call between the two leaders will be closely watched by markets to see if the tariff-induced blow to global stocks and the dollar this year could get some reprieve or ratchet up, as trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies simmer.

Data on Monday showed U.S. manufacturing contracted for a third straight month in May and suppliers took the longest time in nearly three years to deliver inputs amid tariffs.