US-China Trade Tensions Flare; US Shutdown Enters Day 14

On today's podcast:
1) China has signaled it’s keeping communication channels open with the US after a series of tit-for-tat moves that intensified a confrontation between the world’s two biggest economies. The Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday reiterated “the door is open” to talks even as it defended China’s decision to implement export curbs on rare earths amid escalating trade tensions in recent weeks. The remarks came just hours after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Beijing had failed to respond to US inquiries over the weekend following China’s announcement of export controls on products containing traces of certain rare earths. It marked China’s first major attempt to exercise long-arm jurisdiction over foreign companies that target the chip industry.
2) President Trump used a one-day tour of Israel and Egypt to soak in the praise from fellow leaders and lay out a vision for broader Middle East peace after the success of US-led mediation efforts to end the fighting in Gaza. Yet the nascent ceasefire remains fragile, with many key details left to be worked out. Trump said food and aid has begun to flow into Gaza, which has been devastated by the conflict. “Numerous countries of great wealth” have pledged reconstruction funds, Trump added, though he did not name them.
3) House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is calling Democrats in his chamber back to Washington Tuesday - the 14th day of the government shutdown - despite GOP leadership nixing votes, according to a Democratic lawmaker and two leadership aides. House Republican leaders announced Friday that the chamber will stay out, after originally having been scheduled to be in session. This is the third week in a row Johnson has canceled votes, keeping House lawmakers in their districts amid the government shutdown.

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