May 13, 2019 - Economy & Business

Chinese newspapers take hard line on Trump

The Chengdu Commercial Daily, in the capital of Sichuan Province. Photo via Kevin Rudd

Axios reader Kevin Rudd, the former Australian prime minister, sends this dispatch on the trade war, from Beijing: "This morning’s papers ... are quite hardline." Rudd calls the latest Chinese stipulations "a reasonably firm 'screw you.'"

Between the lines, from Sinocism's Bill Bishop: The Chinese are digging in, with official media over the weekend making it clear what China won’t agree to."

  • "Now that that's been done officially, it'll be hard for Chinese officials to walk back, even if they wanted to."

P.S. ... Larry Kudlow, Trump's economic adviser, asked by Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday" if it's U.S. businesses and consumers who pay tariffs on China:

  • "Yes, I don't disagree with that. Again, both sides will suffer on this."
  • Why it matters: Trump insisted in a tweet, incorrectly, that China pays.

Go deeper: Trade talks become trade war

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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 5:30 p.m. ET: 12,607,510 — Total deaths: 562,338 — Total recoveries — 6,948,863 — Map.
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