Good morning, Chicago.

The United Kingdom and India signed a huge trade deal that could have an eventual economic impact of $34 billion. President Donald Trump’s tariffs likely inspired this deal, the Tribune Editorial Board says in its first piece today.

“British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has been pushing the notion that the U.K. should position itself as the adult in the global room, drawing a sharp and politically useful contrast with the volatility and trade incoherence coming from the administration of President Donald Trump,” the board writes.

Steve Chapman is also concerned about Trump and writes in his column today that “ineptitude, arrogance and disdain for expertise have been the signature of Trump’s Cabinet.”

Back in Illinois, the board supports a bill making its way through Springfield that would remove a layer of unnecessary bureaucracy to volunteering for retired, licensed medical professionals who want to lend a hand during hard times. “The state should continue identifying and eliminating unnecessary barriers that limit skilled people from contributing in this way,” the board writes.

In commentary today, our columnist Laura Washington writes about the three Black female elected officials who could be running for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat. This is a big moment, but Washington worries that a crowded field could split the vote of a key bloc in the Illinois Democratic Party.

Also today, Paul Vallas calls for an end to the federal probe into Chicago Public Schools’ plan to promote academic success among Black students.

“Rather than picking on a fledgling program that is likely doomed by local politics anyway, the Trump administration should keep its eye on the prize: implementing policies that serve all students by greatly expanding school choice,” Vallas writes.

Thanks for reading. We will be back tomorrow.

— Grace Miserocchi, opinion editor

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