Monday Briefing

U.S. said it made ‘progress’ toward a deal with China

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said yesterday that the U.S. had made “substantial progress” in talks with China after a weekend of meetings in Geneva, and that more details would be announced today.

Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative who joined Bessent for the talks, suggested that some form of a “deal” addressed U.S. national security concerns about China’s trade practices. He did not say whether the two nations had agreed to drop any of their punishing tariffs.

China’s vice premier for economic policy, He Lifeng, described the talks as “candid, in-depth and constructive” and said that the two countries had reached a deal to establish a “consultation mechanism” to discuss economic and trade issues, according to Chinese state media.

Analysis: “Any reduction in tensions is good news for businesses that depend on trade between the U.S. and China,” said my colleague Ana Swanson, who covers trade for The Times. “But I would be cautious about expecting too much from just two days of meetings.” Other than lower tariffs, a possible outcome tomorrow “may just be more meetings,” she added.

India and Pakistan maintained a cease-fire

The fragile truce between India and Pakistan appeared to be largely holding yesterday, on its first full day. Both countries claimed to have won the four-day conflict they had been engaged in.

After some initial fighting on Saturday, President Trump later announced that both sides had agreed to a cease-fire with the help of U.S. mediation. He added that he would increase trade “substantially” with both countries and work with them to settle their dispute over Kashmir.

Pakistan praised America for mediating, but India initially made no mention of U.S. involvement. Later, New Delhi acknowledged discussions with U.S. officials but said it had made its own decisions. Here’s what else to know about the conflict.

Under the guns: Showkat Nanda, born and raised in Kashmir, grew up hearing gunfire but had never spent a night under military bombardment until this month. He wrote about the experience.

Signs of division between Trump and Netanyahu

As Trump prepares to visit the Middle East this week for his first major foreign trip, he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel are showing signs of a rift that has grown since April.

In February, they were in sync on issues like the Houthis, Iran and Gaza. Since then, Trump has rejected Netanyahu’s desire for joint action to take out Iran’s nuclear abilities. He also announced a deal with Houthi militias to halt U.S. airstrikes against them, just days after a Houthi missile struck Israel’s main airport.

There is even some evidence of a divide on Gaza: Trump’s emissaries are still trying to get a deal to stop the war, even though he has largely supported Netanyahu’s conduct in the conflict.

Hamas: The Palestinian armed group said it would free Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen held captive in Gaza.

More Trump news:

• Trump plans to accept a luxury Boeing plane from the Qatari royal family that would be used as Air Force One, raising big ethical questions. It would be one of the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the U.S. government.

• The Trump administration is planning to allow a first group of white South Africans to enter the U.S. as refugees today, according to officials and documents.

• Trump has floated changing the name of the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf — a move that infuriated Iran and its people.

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