Marketplace All-in-One

After this weekend’s G-20 summit, the upcoming U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese goods have been put on hold for a 90-day truce in the ongoing trade war. But some American businesses aren’t feeling optimistic. We'll hear from them and from our Shanghai correspondent on the latest. Plus: Yet more consolidation in local TV, and looking back at the economic legacy of George H.W. Bush.

The markets perk up after the announcement of a temporary truce  in the trade war between the U.S. and China. Qatar decides to cut and run from OPEC. Plus, why so many American farmers are filing for bankruptcy. Today's show is sponsored by Orvis , Navy Federal Credit Union and the Alliance for Lifetime Income.

The U.S. and China reached a 90-day truce in its trade war at the G20 Summit this past week, but the two countries still don't appear to be on the same page. Plus, a look at the life of late President George H.W. Bush, who passed away at the age of 94 Friday. Today's show is sponsored by Orvis  and Navy Federal Credit Union.

From the BBC World Service… Days before a crucial meeting on future production, Qatar says it will quit OPEC. So, what's at stake and why is the smallest producer in the group making the decision to leave now? Then, talks at a climate meeting in Poland have begun a day earlier than scheduled. At stake for the 40 heads of state attending is agreement on the rules of the Paris climate pact aimed at ensuring all countries keep their promises. Plus, Thursday's OPEC production meeting and elections in Germany top our list of events to watch in the week ahead.

We all had a party on Twitter last week when NASA landed a new probe on Mars. But for people to land or live on Mars, they'll have to survive in a hostile environment where you can't just run to the hardware store for new tools ... or a new satellite or new habitat. So some companies are trying to move manufacturing to space. NASA contracted with one company, Made in Space, to use a 3D printer to make tools on the International Space Station. One day it may be able to "print" satellites in space. Molly Wood talks with Andrew Rush, president and CEO of Made in Space.

If you celebrate Christmas, you might find yourself strapping a fresh tree to your car this week or heading to a big box store for some faux fir. You might be wondering what's better for the planet: a foreign-manufactured collection of plastic and metal or the genuine article, which takes years to grow, just to decorate your home for a few weeks? We'll try to sort it out on today's show. But first: Maine has the oldest median age in the U.S. at 44 years old and counting. We'll look at the state's efforts to bring in a younger workforce. Plus, the latest out of the G-20, and how many streaming services is too many?

One of the Federal Reserve's branches suggests inflation is lower than thought, calling into question the chair's recent public assessment. The New York Attorney General is looking into a massive data breach at Marriott's Starwood hotels. And what will happen to Mexico City's 13-billion dollar, partly constructed airport the incoming president promised to scrap on the campaign trail? Plus, why Amazon's HQ2 contest doesn't really benefit the overall economy. Today's episode is sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income and Paypal.

On the week of the G20 Summit and in the midst of a trade war between the U.S. and China, the head of the WTO says some countries are thinking of a "Plan B" if the international system is undermined. NASA has announced it's partnering with nine private aerospace companies to head back to the moon for the first time since 1972. Plus, Mexico's incoming President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has promised to move federal workers out of the capital, but what does that mean for how they get to work when the commutes — and some social interactions — are already fraught. Today's show is sponsored by the University of Florida Warrington School of Business and Paypal.

From the BBC World Service… China’s manufacturing sector grounded to a halt in November for the first time in two years. With an ongoing trade dispute with the U.S., is more stimulus on the way from the government for the economy? Then, with Brexit nearing, we head to Brussels, the beating heart of the European Union, to find out how the bloc is bracing for the U.K.'s departure, orderly or not.

Everybody wants 5G, the superfast next-generation wireless technology. And Huawei, the giant Chinese electronics maker, is the world's largest supplier of 5G networking equipment. But the U.S. government banned Huawei and Chinese company ZTE from its telecom infrastructure back in 2012 because of concerns that the Chinese government could use the equipment to spy on companies and government agencies. This week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States has been trying to convince foreign allies to also dump Huawei. The warnings about Huawei's equipment might be working. On Wednesday, New Zealand banned the company from its telecom infrastructure. Australia did the same back in August, and the United Kingdom yesterday warned Huawei to tighten up its security overall. Stu Woo, one of the reporters who wrote the story in the Journal, tells Molly Wood that the thing that makes 5G so useful is also the thing that makes it so insecure. Today's show is sponsored by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.

Big retailers have followed Amazon's lead in making free shipping a staple. But that leaves small businesses in the uncomfortable position of managing expectations or just eating the cost of two-day air themselves. But first: Wages are up, inflation is down and consumer spending is on the rise again. That's all good, right? Well, maybe. We'll walk through some of the warning signs of downturn to look out for. Plus: A look back in trade history, when Japan had a turbulent relationship with the U.S.

The new Fed chair seems to getting his "sea legs." Will presidents Trump and Jinping work through the U.S.-China trade beef at the G20 Summit in Argentina? And Starbucks pushes towards inclusivity by teaching employees American Sign Language. Today's show is sponsored by the University of Florida Warrington School of Business and Paypal.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's big speech Wednesday helped the markets rally, and he emphasized why it's desirable to keep interest rates neutral, but what does "neutral" mean, anyway. It's that time of the year again: when lawmakers decide on a budget and try to avoid a federal government shutdown. So, where is Congress' on their long-awaited budget fix? And with all the talk of Amazon moving into New York and Virginia, let's not forget Nashville is also part of the online behemoth's expansion into for-profit health care. Today's show is sponsored by the University of Florida Warrington School of Business and Paypal.

From the BBC World Service… German prosecutors raid several Deutsche Bank offices over suspicions of money laundering, sending shares down. Then, with the U.S. and China locked in a trade war, can President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reach a truce at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires? Plus, we travel to Poland as part of our Life After Brexit series. The country is currently locked in a battle with Brussels over independence of the country's judges.

News broke this week about a Chinese scientist who says he edited the genes of twin girls while they were in the womb. The goal was to make the girls immune to HIV, but editing human genes at that level is ethically controversial and illegal in many countries. It raises many questions about creating genetic traits that can be passed on and about a future where people choose the genetic traits in their children. Not surprisingly, it's a topic well covered in science fiction. The 1997 movie "Gattaca" is about a future where your genes determine whether you'll succeed in life or be considered an "invalid." Molly Wood talks about it with Amy Webb, founder of the Future Today Institute. Webb says there are plenty of benefits to gene editing technology, but that "Gattaca's" social commentary was all too prescient.