Syz the moment

Amid continued trade talks with Washington, India has reportedly proposed to charge zero tariffs on steel, auto components and pharmaceuticals from the US on a reciprocal basis. According to a report by Bloomberg quoting people familiar with the development, the reciprocal tariffs have been offered up to a certain quantity of imports from the US. Beyond the set limit, imported industrial goods would attract the regular level of duties, the sources said. The offer was reportedly made by trade officials from the Indian side who visited Washington in late April to expedite negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. A deal is expected to be closed by autumn this year, the report quoted the sources as saying.

▶️ The United States and Ukraine have officially established the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, giving American companies priority access to develop Ukraine's valuable natural resources. The agreement grants the US privileged access to investment projects for Ukraine's aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas reserves as part of broader reconstruction efforts. ▶️Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: "Thanks to President Trump's tireless efforts to secure a lasting peace, I am glad to announce this historic economic partnership agreement between the United States and Ukraine." Source: U.S. Treasury Department, @sentdefender thru Mario Nawfal

No tax on tips, no tax on Social security, no tax on overtime. "In the coming weeks and months, we will pass the largest tax cuts in American history and that will include no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime. It's called the One Big Beautiful Bill, and it will be the biggest bill ever passed in our country's history. It will include the biggest tax cuts, regulation cuts, military supremacy, and just about everything else." Source: @RapidResponse47 thru Mario Nawfal, FoxNews

According to Reuters, the Trump administration is working on changes to a Biden-era rule that would limit global access to AI chips, including possibly doing away with its splitting the world into tiers that help determine how many advanced semiconductors a country can obtain, three sources familiar with the matter said. The sources said the plans were still under discussion and warned they could change. But if enacted, removing the tiers could open the door to using U.S. chips as an even more powerful negotiating tool in trade talks.

Source: Charlie Bilello

Source: Justin Wolfers @JustinWolfers on X

State-backed funds have been pulling back from investing in the funds of US-headquartered private capital firms in recent weeks, according to seven private equity executives with knowledge of the matter. The moves come in response to pressure from the Chinese government, three of the people said. Some of the Chinese funds are also seeking to be excluded from private equity investments in US companies, even if those investments are made by buyout groups based elsewhere, some of the executives added. The change in approach to the US comes as China has borne the brunt of US tariffs announced in the past three weeks that threaten to significantly curtail trade between the world’s two biggest economies. Source: FT

The survey found that the boost in economic optimism that accompanied Trump’s reelection has disappeared, with more Americans now believing the economy will get worse than at any time since 2023 and with a sharp turn toward pessimism about the stock market. The survey of 1,000 Americans across the country showed 44% approving of Trump’s handling of the presidency and 51% disapproving, slightly better than CNBC’s final reading when the president left office in 2020. On the economy, however, the survey showed Trump with 43% approval and 55% disapproval, the first time in any CNBC poll that he has been net negative on the economy while president. Source: CNBC