** Australian tech stocks .AXIJ fall as much as 0.9%

** U.S. stocks ended lower overnight as trade tensions escalated following U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China .N

** Benchmark ASX 200 .AXJO down 0.8%

** ASX-listed shares of Block Inc XYZ.AX down 4.7% while Aussie shares of Xero XRO.AX fall 1.3%

** Sub-index has risen 1.9% this year, as of 0031 GMT, compared to 0.4% drop in ASX 200

(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru)

((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com))