U.S. China Agree on 90-Day Tariff Pause

China and the United States have agreed to lower tariffs on goods from each other’s countries for 90 days, offering a temporary reprieve in the trade war, as The Washington Post reports.

India and Pakistan Hold Talks

Indian and Pakistani military leaders held talks on Monday intended to extend a tenuous cease-fire that has halted the most expansive fighting in decades between the two nuclear-armed states, as the NYT reports.

Hamas Releases Last Living U.S. Hostage From Gaza

Hamas released the last living American hostage in Gaza on Monday, marking a diplomatic win for the Trump administration that has brought mixed reactions in Israel, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

A confrontation with China could reshape the global order. Analyze China’s military rise and test U.S. response strategies in Meeting China’s Military Challenge. Join CSIS experts from June 3 to 4, 2025, for expert briefings and an interactive wargame. Register by May 28.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to the latest Critical Questions by CSIS's Christopher Hernandez-Roy and Christopher Sands, "Game On for the United States and Canada After Oval Office Opener."

In That Number

30 percent

The U.S. on Monday said it would reduce the tariff on Chinese imports to 30 percent.
Source: NYT

Critical Quote

“We’re not looking to hurt China.”

—President Donald Trump

iDeas Lab

The African share of global exploration spending has declined consistently, falling from 16 percent in 2004 to just 10.4 percent in 2024. Read the full analysis here.

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 as stocks rally after the U.S. and China agreed to cut reciprocal tariffs by 115% for 90 days during ongoing negotiations, on May 12, 2025 in New York City.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosts the 2025 Global Security Forum, "Strength Through the Storm: Industry, Innovation, and the Future of U.S. Military Power."

At 9:30 a.m., congressional security leaders Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Mark Kelly, and Rep. Pat Ryan discuss U.S. defense modernization and innovation.

Then, 10:45 a.m., Sen. Mitch McConnell reflects on “American Leadership and American Strength” in a fireside chat.

Later, at 3:30 p.m., CSIS's Seth Jones holds a panel with the Vice Chiefs of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Video

Last week, CSIS’s Benjamin Jensen, director of the CSIS Futures Lab and senior fellow in the CSIS Defense and Security Department, joined Andrew Schwartz on the Truth of the Matter podcast to discuss the CSIS Russian Firepower Strike Tracker and how to quantify wartime tactics. Watch the full podcast here.

Podcasts

CSIS’s Max Bergmann and Donatienne Ruy cover the first round of the Romanian presidential election, where George Simion, a hard-right candidate, soared to a first-place finish ahead of the second round on May 18.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Some of you are asking me to keep posting highlight from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival—which is music to my ears! Here’s a terrific performance by the Allman Betts Band of the Allman Brothers’ classic “Dreams.” Allman Betts features Gregg Allman’s son, Devon, on vocals and guitar as well as Dickey Betts’ son, Duane (not on stage for this song). This special Jazz Fest performance also features Eric Krasno on guitar and pioneering New Orleans brass band The Dirty Dozen.

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.