President Donald Trump’s rapid-fire trade war has set in motion a commercial rupture without precedent, which is rippling through the global economy in unpredictable and costly ways. The triple-digit taxes that the president has imposed on Chinese products — and China’s retaliatory measures — are expected to shrink trade between the world’s two largest economies from a recent annual peak of nearly $700 billion to almost nothing.

A POLITICO survey of more than 15 countries, including five key Asian trading partners, suggested confusion about the administration’s approach.

The Trump administration is touting the likelihood of reaching trade agreements with several countries. But the spat with China is just escalating.

The fast-worsening trade war between the United States and China — the planet’s premier geopolitical powers, whose economies are intricately entwined — threatens to wreak severe damage on both nations and will send shockwaves worldwide.

Iran and the United States will begin crucial talks on Saturday to reach a new nuclear deal in an effort to ease tensions and avert another conflict in the Middle East that could further engulf the wider region.

Iran said it was giving high-level nuclear talks with the U.S. on Saturday "a genuine chance", after Trump threatened bombing if discussions failed.

President Donald Trump is betting that a beleaguered Iran is so vulnerable following a tumultuous 18 months in the Middle East that it might finally be ready to abandon its nuclear program.