Overview
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun in Malaysia and said both sides agreed to establish direct military communication channels to manage crises and reduce miscalculation.
- The White House detailed that threatened additional tariffs on Chinese imports are suspended at least until November 10, 2026, with the U.S. tariff rate set at 10 percent effective November 10.
- China agreed to suspend announced export controls on rare earths and to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans, with the rare-earths arrangement described as a one-year deal that could be extended after further talks.
- Hegseth said further meetings will follow to operationalize the new military channels, signaling that practical details and timelines are still being developed.
- A Supreme Court hearing this week will examine presidential tariff authority, adding legal uncertainty even as Hegseth’s visit to the Korean DMZ and discussions of a more flexible U.S. troop posture signal regional reassurance.