Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 247 at background briefing.

I'm Mien Masters, and today we'll examine a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with an analysis of China's response to Trump's trade war and the 104% tariffs he's about to impose on the PRC,

as well as the insult to the Chinese people from Vice President Vance,

who referred to, quote, borrowing money from Chinese peasants to buy goods made by

Chinese peasants. Joining us is Barry Norton, the chair of Chinese International Affairs and a scholar

with the 21st Century China Program at the University of California, San Diego. An authority on

the Chinese economy.

He has recently focused on Chinese trade and technology, in particular the relationship

between the development of the electronics industry in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and the

growth of trade and investment among those economies.

His books include the China Circle, Economics and Technology, and the

PRC, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, the Chinese economy, transitions and growth, and his latest,

state capitalism, institutional adaptation, and the Chinese miracle. Then we'll look into the talks

between Iran and the United States that Trump announced will take place on Saturday in Oman

and how much they are a result of setbacks Iran has suffered with his proxies and the loss of Syria,

along with U.S. threats from nuclear-capable B-2 bombers deployed in the region,

along with threats from nuclear-capable B-2 bombers deployed in the region, along with threats from nuclear-capable B-2 bombers deployed in the region.

Joining us is Dr. Trita Parsi, the Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible

Statecraft. He has served as a professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins University,

Seiss, New York University, Georgetown University,

and George Washington University.

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