(CNN) The top US trade negotiator on Tuesday said that new tariffs on Chinese-made consumer goods including cell phones, toys and video game consoles would be delayed until December 15.

It's the latest turnaround on tariffs for President Donald Trump , who has repeatedly dangled threats to ratchet up import duties on goods from China and other countries, including Mexico, as leverage in negotiations.

Trump, who is campaigning for reelection in part on his China trade war, said the move was designed in part to avoid any pain for consumers heading into the holiday season.

"What we've done is we've delayed it so they won't be relevant in the Christmas shopping season," Trump told reporters en route to western Pennsylvania. "Just in case they might have an impact on people."

The move comes after a phone call between US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and top Chinese negotiator Liu He in which the parties agreed to pick up negotiations by phone within two weeks, according to a statement from the Chinese Commerce Ministry. There was no mention of whether negotiators would meet in person next month in Washington as previously scheduled.

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