(The Economy's) Getting Cold Out Here...

A small compendium of recent news related to China's fast sinking economy:

• Global trade is falling fast, points out Brad Setser.
• China appears to be looking at allowing its currency to depreciate and increasing VAT refunds to cope (James Fallows).
  
• Frankly, if they really wanted to make a bigger impact they'd let oil prices float (as of last week they still hadn't let gas prices fall since oil prices globally have been plummeting) - instead of simply adding gas taxes moving away from pay per use on highways (China Economic Review).
  
• A few notes of advice from China Business & Management Solutions on companies that depend on China.
  
• Like Asiabizblog, while I'm hopeful, I don't see how they doesn't turn into pressure globally for more trade protectionism making us all poorer off.