An American Buyer Is Negotiating with a British Supplier for the Purchase

An American buyer is negotiating with a British supplier for the purchase of raw materials for production of heavy machinery in the U.S. Before exchanging any information pertaining to the business of the meeting, he spends a few minutes talking to the British negotiator on topics such as World Cup soccer, the recently concluded general elections, and the fickle English weather. The American buyer is engaging in the first stage of a business negotiation known as:

A) persuasion.
B) nontask sounding.
C) setting an agenda.
D) assessment of business terms.
E) appraisal of current affairs.