Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan on Tuesday, easing fears of escalating tensions with a key US ally (and the world’s fourth largest economy to boot). Under the agreement, the US will lower tariffs on Japanese cars to 15% and Japan will open its markets to more American cars, rice, and other goods, while also pumping $550 billion worth of fresh investment into the US. The president also announced similarly structured deals with the Philippines and Indonesia, though details remain spotty.
Thousands Ukrainians gathered on the streets of Kyiv on Wednesday, defying martial law rules to protest president Volodymyr Zelensky’s moves to seize control of the nation’s independent anti-corruption body. It was the first time that Ukrainians have protested their government like this since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Zelensky’s office says the measure is needed to streamline anti-corruption probes and insulate them from external meddling. Will Ukrainians accept that?
There have been several geopolitical shocks this year, yet none have stopped oil prices from plunging, showing how oil markets have become more risk tolerant.
In this "ask ian," Ian Bremmer analyzes Trump’s recent meeting with Zelensky and how close (or far) Russia and Ukraine are from a peace deal.