In his recently released book, Donald Trump’s trade chief champions more protectionism despite continuing reports of the damage caused by the tariffs so far. Unfortunately, the possibility of Trump in the White House again means the odds are against a withdrawal of these trade barriers.

There is scant evidence of trailblazing progress on the ground in Hong Kong, but mainland China is making headway and the city could play a role in these efforts. Globally, however, investment in green hydrogen will need to be scaled up dramatically to make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions.

Amid climate change and growing debt, fairer global funding arrangements are needed for low-income economies. But while the Paris summit shows the world’s rich recognise the need for change, it seems they still recoil at reforms.

As ocean-plying container vessels and colossal cruise ships appear in larger numbers, concerns about the pollution they create have resurfaced. With China emerging as a builder of mega cruise ships, now is the time for Asia to lead a return to environmental care in the industry.

If China continues to grow faster than the US, there may be as many rich Chinese as rich Americans by 2040, even as poor Americans would be worse off. The US needs to recognise that its imperious approach to negotiation is unacceptable to not just China, but also other nations in the Global South.

After three pandemic years, global aviation is expected to return to profit this year, but some regions are recovering faster than others. The Asia-Pacific is lagging behind North America, and Hong Kong, having faced severe reputational damage as a regional aviation hub, faces an uncertain road to recovery.

Rather than the recent wave of nationalist, protectionist impulses, we need reglobalisation and a reaffirmation of the value and benefits that globalisation and multilateral cooperation have delivered in the past six decades.

An ageing Hong Kong looking to import labour will find stiff competition – just six Apec economies can expect a growing workforce in coming decades. To cope, the city needs a comprehensive strategy to both attract workers and support locals.

The world economy now is fraught with risk, but not the dangers Washington is hallucinating. Those truly concerned about supply chain risks would be drawing lessons from the pandemic and climate change, instead of pointing fingers at China.

Beyond what the crisis-obsessed media may report, the world is actually making steady progress against poverty, illiteracy, disease and more. More than anything, we should rely on a fact-based world view rather than the fact-free bigotry incubated across much of social media.

Hong Kong’s frustration with the US appeal over its ‘Made in Hong Kong’ label reflects global dismay at the WTO’s crippled dispute settlement function.

India never had a revolution, so its old power structures continue to shackle economic change. This, coupled with a lack of investment in education, health and social welfare, means India will continue to lag behind China

G7 efforts to set the international agenda for how to resolve the Ukraine crisis will be complicated by voices from South Africa to Brazil. Meanwhile, US criticism of China’s ‘economic coercion’ rings hollow given that this behaviour is hardly unique to Beijing. Diplomats call it ‘economic statecraft’.

A tunnel that could have been built for HK$88 million has become a HK$5 billion project that will again mar public enjoyment of the Central waterfront. Yet, under the current administration, the project is hardly coming under the public scrutiny it deserves.

While some concerns about the state of the world’s supply chains are driven by paranoia, others are legitimate and must be addressed. Rather than blame China, countries in the West should examine the deregulation and weak enforcement of antitrust laws which allowed monopolies to emerge.

Pandemic upheavals have exposed the reliance of universities in the West on international students, particularly from China – as Hong Kong’s universities become good at attracting mainland students too.

The Dunning-Kruger effect describes how people with a limited amount of information about a particular subject can perceive themselves to be experts. As Washington seems to be filled by such experts on China, more moderate, fact-based thinkers are sorely needed.

A person who retires in Hong Kong at 65 can expect to live about 20 more years. Why should this time be spent unproductively? Companies, government policymakers and educators must plan for the reality that people are going to be living and working much longer.

Alongside calls for more military spending, there are demands to address climate change and rebuild health systems even as governments struggle with record debt levels. A series of squeezes are set to cut deep into spending that is best directed elsewhere.

China is in Europe’s sights again, this time over being the main source of adulterated and misleadingly labelled honey exported to the EU. Europe’s agricultural sector is just the latest arena in which protectionist policies are being erected with the justification of national security.

Environment activists have decried the UAE’s nomination of Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, CEO of an oil company, to lead the UN’s climate talks at the end of the year. While al-Jaber is a seasoned diplomat and also heads a renewable energy firm, the oil industry’s environmental track record means scepticism about his role is understandable.

As tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait, analysts predict a global economic and political disaster in case of an attack. To ensure the possibility of forced reunification remains slim, moderate voices are needed urgently.

Despite optimism in some sectors, the prevailing message during the IMF’s spring meetings was one of gloom, concern and the need for urgent action. The projected massive rise in spending needs is neither being budgeted for nor acknowledged as many governments appear unwilling to listen.

Japan, South Korea, Singapore and India were by far home to the most among Asia’s top 500 companies achieving high growth in the past three years. Hong Kong had just five firms on the list, showing the scale of the challenge as the city tries to return to the upper reaches of high-growth entrepreneurship.

Even if Putin cannot be made to pay the massive bill, Ukrainians can be moderately confident the world will ensure it is covered. Importantly, this is a sober reminder of the grim costs of war and the absolute imperative to avoid it.

The trade war against China that Donald Trump initiated in 2018 is self-defeating and it defies reason that US President Joe Biden has continued it. Given the realities of global trade, it is understandable that Europe’s leaders focus on ‘de-risking’ rather than decoupling.

Ip wants priority for the cheaper Northern Metropolis project, which will provide homes for five times as many people and a more natural fit given the Greater Bay Area. Given Hong Kong’s budget deficits and a looming global recession, Ip is well justified in demanding that officials examine costs carefully.

Driving from Hong Kong to the mainland remains a luxury limited to a tiny minority of Hongkongers because of the many permits and permissions needed. Such obstacles are also a hindrance to tourism. Visitors might find a trip to Hong Kong more attractive if it could include taking in sights in southern China.

For years, financial institutions have plied companies – particularly rising tech firms – with cheap money, allowing them to accumulate debt without ever turning a profit. Now, as this system threatens to implode, central banks are running to the rescue – again.

While happiness might seem hard to come by amid geopolitical, economic and climate uncertainty, recent polls have found that levels remain resilient. This suggests that factors like a sense of community, goodwill and trust in leadership contribute more to well-being than individual prosperity.