The world’s most powerful woman, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, went to meet the world’s most powerful man, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday.
Why it matters: The trip comes as a deepening estrangement between Europe and the U.S. is reshaping Germany’s choices and challenges on the world stage. Only 14% of Germans think the U.S. is a reliable partner these days, according to a recent poll. More than 40%, meanwhile, now see China in a positive light.
Germany and China find themselves in the same boat on a number of important issues.
Trade is one. As two of the world’s leading exporters, China and Germany run huge surpluses with the U.S., which means both are now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration’s zero-sum trade policies. The White House has already singled out key national industries—autos in Germany, advanced technology in China—for possible tariffs.
Merkel and Xi also agree that Trump’s walkout on the Iran deal was an impetuous and dangerous move. They will try to forge a path forward that preserves the deal, even in the face of new US sanctions.
But Merkel also has a huge bone to pick with Xi about China’s tech and industrial policies, which discriminate against foreign companies, and about Beijing’s siphoning of advanced technologies through investment in European firms.
After all, China is an emerging competitor in markets for high-value industrial goods that German has dominated for decades.
The irony is that the Trump administration is also upset with China about these same issues, but has chosen to take up a trade fight with its European allies rather than work with them to pressure China together.
The bottom line: This leaves Merkel — who just weeks ago called for a new and more assertive European foreign policy — in the extraordinary position of having to find common ground with a rising competitor, because of the lack of common cause with a traditional ally.
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The average gas price nationwide is at almost $3 a gallon — the highest it's been in four years — and for those planning summer road trips, here are the states to avoid if you're looking for cheap gasoline.
Between the lines: Axios' energy reporter Amy Harder explains that while there is evidence that President Trump is at least a partial contributor to the rise in gas prices, other factors such as OPEC and Russia, which decided to cut oil production this year, and varying state taxes also have impacted prices.
The top 10 mot expensive states for filing up the tank:
California $3.73
Hawaii $3.71
Washington $3.45
Alaska $3.39
Oregon $3.34
Nevada $3.33
Idaho $3.17
Utah $3.15
Connecticut $3.15
Michigan $3.13
The top 10 least expensive states for filling up the tank:
Mueller's web: Everyone caught up in the Russia investigation
There's been such a flood of stories about who Robert Mueller has interviewed for his Russia investigation — and who's been charged in connection with it — that it can be easy to lose track. Here's a map to help you keep every move straight.
How it works: The map starts with the people who participated in key events and the ones who have been charged. Expand this story and you'll see the rest, including current and former Trump administration officials and the people with more distant connections.
Diagram: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios
The key events:
Trump Tower meeting: The June 2016 meeting between Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian national in which they were expecting damaging information about Hillary Clinton, but didn't get it.
Michael Cohen. Trump's personal lawyer has been raided by the FBI, and Mueller is looking into his activities, but there have been no reports that Mueller's team has questioned him directly.
Donald Trump Jr. The bigger intrigue is about why there have been no reports that Mueller's team has questioned Trump Jr., given that he is a key player in one of the biggest events: the Trump Tower meeting with Manafort and Kushner. (He did testify before a Senate committee.)
President Trump. And, of course, Mueller hasn't questioned the president — yet.
Editor's note: Axios' David Nather, Lauren Meier, Haley Britzky, Lazaro Gamino and Andrew Witherspoon contributed to this story.
