Jan 9, 2017

Alibaba's founder makes near-Trumpian promise

Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of China's biggest online shopping site, Alibaba, was practically Trumpian in promising that his company can help support 1 million American jobs by helping U.S. companies sell to Chinese consumers.

Our take: Jack Ma might have the best of intentions, but the biggest hurdle for small businesses selling in China is the Chinese government, not the lack of a website. Everything from registering a Chinese subsidiary to gaining product approval can be prohibitively burdensome for small U.S. businesses.

By the way: Trump likely didn't help his cause in greasing the wheels to China for U.S. businesses by courting the Taiwanese.

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Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 1,506,936 — Total deaths: 90,057 — Total recoveries: 340,112 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 432,596 — Total deaths: 14,831 — Total recoveries: 24,235 — Map.
Business latest: The Fed will lend up to $2.3 trillion for businesses, state and city governments — Another 6.6 million jobless claims were filed last week.
Federal government latest: President Trump is preparing to launch a second coronavirus task force focused on reviving the U.S. economy.
Public health latest: Dr. Anthony Fauci said social distancing could reduce the U.S. death toll to 60,000.
States latest: New York's coronavirus death toll hits record high for third straight day.
🎧 Podcast: Your hydroxychloroquine questions answered.
What should I do? Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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Keep ReadingUpdated 6 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Alayna Treene

Trump plans second coronavirus task force focused on the economy

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump is preparing to launch a second coronavirus task force focused on reviving the U.S. economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus, two administration officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: There is growing energy within the West Wing to start easing people back to work by May 1. But some public health officials, including those on the coronavirus task force, have warned against doing so, raising concerns about reopening America too soon.

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New York's coronavirus death toll hits record high for third straight day

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Why it matters: Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference that social distancing is helping to "flatten the curve" of coronavirus hospitalizations and that deaths are a lagging indicator. Still, he called the death figures "shocking and painful," noting that the virus has killed more than double the number of people who died in New York on 9/11.

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