China intensifies global propaganda against the American trade war

Hello and welcome to Firstft Asia. In today's newsletter:

• Push global propaganda from China

• How Trump's honeymoon launched so quickly

• Martin Wolf explains why the United States will lose against China

We are starting today with the international Chinese propaganda campaign against the American trade war, featuring smooth videos that describe itself as against American “intimidation” in the name of the rest of the world.

'Never kneel': This is the title of the last video published yesterday by the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry on social networks. He warns countries not to conclude agreements with the United States, which “slaps his allies opposite”. The video reflects concerns in Beijing that President Donald Trump uses prices to force other countries to join America to isolate China. “Intimidation will be stopped …

Propaganda videos contrast Dark scenes of Wall Street chaos and angry American demonstrators With a brilliant and futuristic China.

Charming offensive: The propaganda push comes after Xi has shot this month in Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia to strengthen links as part of what analysts have described as an offensive of China's trade charm which also includes Europe and Latin America. Beijing wants to “try to consolidate his support in Western and non-Western capitals to prevent Trump from forming an anti-China commercial block,” said Neil Thomas, a member of the Center for China's analysis for the analysis of the Center for China. Read the full story.

• More news from the trade war: Wall Street economists predict that GDP decreased in the first quarter After the American trade deficit of goods reached a record level in March.

• European automobile ambitions of China: Chinese car manufacturers developing in Europe are forced to Rehabilitate their short -term ambitions As the EU pricing road dams slowed down product launches and made their electric vehicles less affordable.

Here is what we keep any other eye on today:

• Economic data: Australia reports the IPC inflation figures, China publishes the Mars PMI and Japan which publishes industrial production data. GDP data in the first quarter is due to Taiwan, the United States and the EU.

• Monetary policy: The Bank of Thailand should reduce your policy rate In the midst of slower economic growth. (Bangkok post)

• Results: The winning season continues with the exchanges and compensation for Samsung, Hong Kong, Barclays, Microsoft and Volkswagen Reporting.

• Vietnam: Today is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, with commemorations planned across the country.

Five other best stories

1. Mark Carney won Canada's elections after a country-dominated campaign with the United States under Trump. The Liberal Party of Carney was on the right track to win the greatest number of seats and the right to form a minority government. Learn more about the Pivot vote.

2. Trump is about to announce another step back from his trade war and reveal more Price relief for some of the largest car manufacturers in the world. The president will use a visit to the US Industrial Heartlands on Tuesday evening (local time) to announce that he spares the manufacturers of some of his steepest tasks and offer those who make their vehicles to small American discounts to compensate for the cost of samples.

• More American news: The White House fled on what it called a “Amazon hostile and political act” After a report allegedly alleged that the technology giant planned to display price increases caused by Trump's prices on its products.

• The first 100 days of Trump: These 10 graphics Card the tumultuous start of his second term.

3. Copper stocks in China should run out in a few months, As the market suffers “One of the biggest tightening shocks” in its history On the fears of American prices, according to senior executives from the Mercuria goods trade house. Kostas Bintas, responsible for the company's metals and mines, said that the United States was “first time” in competition with China for copper supplies, which was likely to overcome prices.

• A blow to nickel producers: Minors in Indonesia are Warning of lower profits And production reductions after the government has increased the royalties it takes from one of the country's largest export industries.

4. The profits of Starbucks fell in half during his last quarter in the middle of the mounting costs of the rectification effort of the cafes chain. Under the chief executive officer, Brian Niccol, who took care of in September, sought to reduce customer waiting times, simplify the menus and restore the feeling of welcome that was lost when more business has moved online during the Pandemic Covid-19. Here is the last on the renaissance campaign of Starbucks.

5 The operator of the Spanish electricity network has excluded a cyber attack as the cause of this week's huge power failure While the authorities rushed to operate transport networks and infrastructure. While the recriminations have stolenThe Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez promised that the energy companies in the private sector would be held responsible for the whole gap.

In -depth news

Trump launched his second presidency in January on the political summit of his electoral victory in 2024 with a promise to deliver a new “golden age” to the Americans. But 100 days later, after a blizzard of actions aimed at emptying the federal government and reducing the world economy through radical prices, Trump is back to the unpopular and polarizing presidency that he was during most of his first mandate. Here's how his honeymoon got so quickly got.

We also read and listen to. . .

• Feeling of shipwreck: Iran suffers from some of the Worse sampling of land in the worldthreatening heritage sites and stimulating suggestions to move the capital.

• “Core” GDP: Against an uncertain political perspective, we must use sustainable economic statistics that tell the real storywrites the professor of Harvard Jason Furman.

• Tech Tonic 🎧: John Thornhill explores the use of AI by Israeli defense forces in the war against Hamas and what the country's technological defense ecosystem tells us about The future of war.

Graphic of the day

Martin Wolf's last column maintains that the The United States will lose its trade war against ChinaWho has powerful cards to play in the dispute. Many important powers are already doing more business with China than with the United States, including Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

Take a break in the news

Before the FT Weekend Festival's US Edition On May 10, our DC Bureau shares its selection of restaurants, museums, racing roads – and more – to make your Visit to Washington A memorable.