US Eyes China Tariff Cut, Slim UK-US Trade Deal, First American Pope

Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.

On today's podcast:

(1) The Trump administration is considering a significant tariff reduction in talks with China to ease economic pain and de-escalate tensions. The US aims to reduce tariffs below 60% as a first step, which China may be prepared to match, with progress possible as soon as next week.

(2) The new trade deal between the US and UK includes a carve-out for autos, which could reduce the tariff levy from 27.5% to 10%, making a 0.1% difference to UK GDP. The deal's impact is limited because almost half of UK value-add that ends up in the US is exported via other countries, and global uncertainty remains a major drag on the UK economy.

(3) US President Donald Trump’s trade policy is upending long-held alliances, threatening global growth and causing mayhem for business. For UK homeowners, though, it is working out quite well. In the last few weeks, several major high street lenders have cut mortgage deals below 4% for the first time in months.

(4) Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will “actively explore” building on the city’s green belt in what would amount to the biggest change to housing policy in the UK capital since the 1960s. The mayor will announce a consultation on releasing parts of London’s green belt in a speech Friday, saying that some building in the protected zone around the city is necessary to meet the capital’s targets and to end a housing crisis.

(5) Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Roman Catholic pontiff, the first ever pope from the US and a possible bridge between the moderate and hardline sides of a divided Church. Prevost, 69, chose the name of Leo XIV for his pontificate and was greeted by thousands of cheering faithful as he stepped out onto a balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square to be presented to the world.

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