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David Dodwell
David Dodwell is CEO of the trade policy and international relations consultancy Strategic Access, focused on developments and challenges facing the Asia-Pacific over the past four decades.
David Dodwell is CEO of the trade policy and international relations consultancy Strategic Access, focused on developments and challenges facing the Asia-Pacific over the past four decades.
Languages Spoken:
English
Accounting for a significant share of world trade, Europe and Asia are far more decisive players in the fast-changing globalised economy.
The US president’s policies have antagonised many the world over and may hit attendance at mega-events like the Fifa World Cup, with political repercussions.
Year-round, multiple intensive working meetings keep the forum an ‘engine room’ of cooperation, reflecting its commitment to multilateralism.
Middle powers are pivoting to Beijing and hedging with new partners as China’s economic displacement of the US rapidly expands.
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Whatever his motivations, he’s alarmed allies and made clear the old order based on a benign US is gone, even as his popularity slips at home.
The swarming sociability of family life is fading as one-person households and lonely deaths rise. Coping with loneliness is now a life skill.
Public procurement failures often reflect government responsibility, and Hong Kong’s fire investigation must confront that reality.
Despite the threat of wars, tariffs, climate change and AI, normality has persisted. But it can only be a matter of time before such contradictions explode.
China’s return as Apec chair is an opportunity to show that both the organisation and its message of multilateralism are as relevant as ever.
Preparedness plans remain a work in progress while health budgets have been sliced by urgent demands and US withdrawal weakens global coordination.
It’s been years since the US president extolled the virtues of trade wars: how much longer before he recognises tariffs harm the US economy?
While Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Istanbul’s plans are already aggressively ambitious, Saudi Arabia’s extravagant vision seems like something from fantasyland.
The city’s low debt, absence of a need to spend on defence and reliance on services are huge comparative advantages in the world today.
Despite the duress, most countries clearly do not prefer Trumpian unilateralism. But while multilateralism is not dead, it is limping badly.
A focus on adaptation means a pivot to action on floods, typhoons, heatstroke deaths, wildfire damage – issues of immediate survival.
Given past renovations, Trump’s ballroom hardly sets a precedent. Besides, why should the most powerful nation on Earth make do with a tent?
While the US president’s trip to the region coincided with multilateral summits, he was clearly more interested in bilateral deals.
While the company might have its reasons for the proposed US$1 trillion package, there are less controversial ways to ensure future growth.
The past week has provided a rare insight into the fudging and bullying that goes on behind the closed doors of high-stakes trade talks.
With its vast network of high-speed trains and ability to develop at scale, the country stands above all others in redefining railway travel.
After 25 years of disagreement and procrastination, WTO members have agreed to ratify a deal to eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies.
Bamboo scaffolders offer speed, cost efficiency and sustainability. And the boom in demand will give the ancient craft a much-needed lifeline.
Transparency, good audits, appeal channels and channels for whistle-blowers might provide some checks – but never a foolproof solution.
The city needs to find its voice to defend the global multilateral trading system and the rules that have fostered growth for eight decades.
Outside the US, new consumer markets have been gathering critical mass as their populations have grown and incomes have risen.
From the Soviet Union to Greece, statisticians have been punished for bad news while in colonial Hong Kong, a dearth of data exacted a price.
Tariffs will take their toll, but the damage done by the White House to the World Trade Organization’s core principles could be irreparable.
As the US president’s tariff obsession wreaks havoc, indifference to the workings of global trade will only lead to more catastrophic consequences.
World minus US likely to intensify cooperation and reform across the UN and other multilateral organisations, rather than leave like the US.
