(Preview) New Year, Same Plans for the Economy; PRC Tariffs on Canadian Exports; A Trump-Xi Birthday Summit?; When Facebook Tried to Enter China

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Bill Bishop is the author of Sinocism

On today's show Andrew and Bill begin with takeaways from the Two Sessions, including good news for tech companies as the push for new quality productive forces continues, the rhetoric surrounding domestic consumption alongside modest stimulus measures so far, the NDRC's plan to mobilize 1 billion yuan to support the startup ecosystem, and more. From there: The PRC announces new tariffs on Canadian exports and state TV warns against Canada cooperating with the U.S. on tariffs, and dueling reports on a potential Trump-Xi meeting as communication remains frustrated between high level US and China leaders. At the end: Cuts to USAID provide a win to the PRC as China-watching NGOs go offline, a whistleblower highlights Facebook’s failed attempts to enter China, and TikTok rumors continue to churn as the apparent deadline for a sale approaches in April.

To email the show: email@sharpchina.fm

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@Stratechery Channel — YouTube

NPC concludes without Zhao Leji; Dalai Lama; Robots and embodied AI; US-China — Sinocism

Two Sessions; Xi's PLA/PAP meeting; Wang Yi's presser; Trump-Xi meeting chatter — Sinocism

Government work report; NDRC national economic and social development plan; Xi meets with his fellow Jiangsu delegates — Sinocism

What Slowdown? Xi Says China Must Win the Global Tech Race. — NYT

Trump’s Tariffs Push Xi to Overhaul China’s Ailing Growth Model — Bloomberg

China’s consumer prices fall for first time in more than a year — FT

China to set up national venture capital guidance fund, state planner says — Reuters

China Hits Canada With Tariffs in Indirect Riposte to Trump — NYT

U.S., China Discuss a Trump-Xi Summit for June — WSJ

Exclusive | Trump may meet Xi in China as soon as April despite escalating trade war, insiders say — SCMP

US-China Tariff Talks Stuck at Lower Levels, Stoking Frustration — Bloomberg

U.S. Foreign-Aid Halt Is Making Scrutiny of China Even Harder — WSJ

Rumormonger Australian 'think tank' ASPI suspends bogus 'research' on China as US funding cuts bite — People's Daily Online

Zuckerberg’s Meta considered sharing user data with China, whistleblower alleges — Washington Post

Trump Says Four Bidders in Play for TikTok Deal ‘Soon’ — Bloomberg

TikTok hasn't negotiated with prospective buyers as deadline looms — Axios