China Showdown

By pausing global tariffs against dozens of countries and raising them on China, President Trump has set up a high-stakes showdown in hopes he can pressure Beijing into a face-saving deal after weeks of global turmoil, as the WSJ reports.

Europe Pauses Retaliation

European Union officials announced on Thursday that they would delay plans for retaliatory tariffs after President Trump’s abrupt decision to hit pause on some of the levies he had placed on Europe and much of the rest of the world, as the NYT reports.

Israel and Turkey Begin Talks to Avoid Conflict in Syria

Israel and Turkey have launched talks to avoid inadvertent clashes inside Syria as the regional rivals expand their influence and military presence inside the war-torn Arab state, as the FT reports.

Executive Education

From clean energy to national security, critical minerals are at the center of global competition. Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future provides expert insights into supply chain resilience and sustainability. Join us in person or virtually—register by April 16.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to the latest Critical Questions by CSIS's Michelle Strucke and Lily Kennedy, "Where Is the United States? An Earthquake in Myanmar Is the First Test of President Trump’s Emergency Aid Cuts."

In That Number

145

President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 percent—an increase of nearly 50 percent in a day, and his fourth tariff action against Beijing since January.
Source: The Washington Post

Critical Quote

“In the end, it’s going to be a beautiful thing.”

—President Donald Trump

iDeas Lab

New CSIS analysis predicts the tripling of global nuclear capacity by 2050 following U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s first secretarial order and the private sector's reinforcement of the need for rapid, large-scale nuclear capacity additions.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.) Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on April 10, 2025, in New York City.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., the CSIS Korea Chair hosts a conversation with leading journalists on what to expect next for South Korea after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Later, at 1:00 p.m., the CSIS Aerospace Security Project holds discussions with senior U.S. and Japanese officials and experts on the importance of the U.S.-Japan space security relationship.

Earlier, at 8:00 a.m., the Hudson Institute hosts a discussion with a panel of government and industry experts tasked with implementing new technologies to stop Chinese aggression.

Video

On Tuesday, Gregory C. Allen, director of the Wadhwani AI Center at CSIS, testified before the House Science, Space, & Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology. He discussed DeepSeek’s AI and how Huawei’s chip gains highlight China’s growing edge in the U.S.-China tech race. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

Following announcements from President Donald Trump of sweeping new tariffs, CSIS's Max Bergmann and Donatienne Roy discuss the fallout from last week’s “Liberation Day,” the impact of these tariffs, and what may come next for Europe with economist and international trade expert Federico Steinberg.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

One of my favorite bands from New Orleans, Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, has a new album coming out in a few weeks. As I mentioned in a previous Smiles, today’s artists know that they need to connect with audience by giving them an inside look at their creative process, if not their personal lives. By posting this studio clip on Facebook, Cleary is taking advantage of the digital age to let fans know what is coming. Here’s Cleary covering The Meters’ classic “Just Kissed My Baby.”

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team.