Past Events

At the Americas Committee meeting on 22 May, Carlos Casanova, Senior Economist Asia at Union Bancaire Privée (UBP SA), provided a comprehensive analysis of U.S. tariff trends and economic developments in Hong Kong and China.

Casanova noted that while the recent 90-day pause in trade tensions had momentarily improved market sentiment, businesses remain cautious. He emphasized that underlying trade frictions will persist, with significant tariffs continuing to impact both Chinese and U.S. consumers.

Turning to China, Casanova explained that cyclical tailwinds driven from monetary policy support, such as key rate cuts and other supportive measures implemented by the People’s Bank of China, are helping to offset some of the impact of U.S. tariffs. For Hong Kong, the discussion highlighted the importance of diversifying its economy and developing new revenue streams to reduce economic risks.

At the meeting, Analisa Low, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China, also joined the meeting and provided an update on the Caribbean. Vice Chairman of the Americas Committee Simon Chan also updated members on his recent visit to the U.S.