FT Chinese Column - HKU Business School

From Anti-Dumping to Trade Wars: Past, Present, and Future of Trade Policy and Disputes

US-China Economic and Trade Negotiations Help Manage Disagreements, but Industry-Level Trade Disputes Will Not Automatically Disappear. Since last year's Busan summit and President Trump's visit to China in May this year, both sides have continued to advance dialogue.

24 Sep 2026

With AI boosting productivity, what’s still holding companies back?

Prof. Weiming ZHU

As AI and intelligent systems improve, the time for companies to generate a quote using AI has been shortened from half a day to just a few minutes; however, customers may still have to wait a week to receive the quote.

17 Sep 2026

Higher Baselines, Unbounded Ceilings: Four Forces Driving AI’s Great Divergence

Prof. Jin LI

People hope that the development of AI will make capabilities more accessible across all levels. In reality, AI is, on the one hand, making ordinary capabilities more uniform, while on the other hand raising the ceiling for exceptional capabilities. The floor of ability is being lifted, while the ceiling of ability is disappearing.

3 Sep 2026

Hong Kong Retail Gasoline Net Profit Margin Surges 6‑Fold Over Two Decades

Prof. Wen ZHOU

Hong Kong’s petrol prices have ranked among the highest in the world in recent years. In March 2026, for example, the posted price of unleaded petrol at Hong Kong filling stations reached as high as US$4.06 per litre, about 42% higher than Malawi, which ranked second.

20 Aug 2026

DELTA+T²: When Trust Replaces Analytics as the Defining Bottleneck in the AI Era

Prof. Haipeng SHEN

Not long ago, on 2 August 2026, the core provisions of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act officially came into effect: all AI-generated content must be clearly labelled, chatbots must inform users that they are interacting with AI, and companies in breach of the rules may face fines of up to €15 million or 3% of their global annual turnover.

13 Aug 2026

What AI Generated Content Do We Actually Need?

Prof. Xi LI

In the AI era, more and more companies are using AI to generate content and widely disseminating it online. An analysis by SEO research organization Graphite, which examined 65,000 English online articles published between 2020 and 2025, shows that the number of AI-generated articles first exceeded human-written articles in November 2024. By mid-2025, the proportion had risen to about 50%.

6 Aug 2026

Only the Market Can Unlock the Value of Data Assets

Prof. Yan XIONG

In 2026, Reddit’s data licensing agreement with Google, reportedly worth about US$60 million per year, is set to expire and come up for renewal. Together with a sister agreement signed with OpenAI around the same period, the two deals currently contribute roughly US$130 million in annualized data licensing revenue to Reddit.

23 Jul 2026

The ‘Smartest’ AI Isn’t Necessarily the Best AI Trader

Prof. Zhenhui Jack JIANG

Recently, Interactive Brokers announced that users can now connect large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok directly to their investment accounts for market research, portfolio analysis, and even trade generation. Large language models are evolving from conversation tools that simply answer questions and generate content into intelligent agents capable of calling external tools, connecting to real-world systems, and participating in complex decision-making.

9 Jul 2026

When Images Are No Longer Proof: Trust and Markets in the AI Age

Prof. Guojun He

In the past, buying things online was a bit like going on a blind date. First, you check out the photos—mm, looking sharp. Then, you read the bio—genuine, professional, and trustworthy. Finally, you look at the reviews—five stars, repurchased three times, buy it with your eyes closed. So, you place the order, silently whispering to yourself: 'Even though we've never met, I'm willing to bet you're not a catfish.

25 Jun 2026

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Our Authors

Prof. Haishi LI

Prof. Weiming ZHU

Prof. Wen ZHOU

Prof. Haipeng SHEN

Prof. Xi LI

Prof. Yan XIONG

Prof. Zhenhui Jack JIANG

Prof. Guojun HE

Prof. Heiwai TANG

Prof. Haishi LI

Assistant Professor

FT Chinese Column

From Anti-Dumping to Trade Wars: Past, Present, and Future of Trade Policy and Disputes

24 Sep 2026

Beyond Tariffs: Rebalancing the U.S.-China Deficit through Strategic Capital Integration

14 May 2026

Prof. Weiming ZHU

Assistant Dean (Open Programme of Executive Education)

Associate Professor

FT Chinese Column

With AI boosting productivity, what’s still holding companies back?

17 Sep 2026

AI Shopping Agents: Reshaping the Power Dynamics of Mobile Internet

3 Apr 2024

The Story of Hong Kong’s Ride-Hailing Services: Then and Now

2 Nov 2025

Prof. Wen ZHOU

Associate Professor

Associate Director, Asia Case Research Centre

FT Chinese Column

Hong Kong Retail Gasoline Net Profit Margin Surges 6‑Fold Over Two Decades

20 Aug 2026

Prof. Haipeng SHEN

Associate Vice-President (Teaching and Learning - TPG)

Associate Dean (EMBA and IMBA)

Patrick S C Poon Professor in Analytics and Innovation

Chair of Business Analytics and Innovation

FT Chinese Column

DELTA+T²: When Trust Replaces Analytics as the Defining Bottleneck in the AI Era

13 Aug 2026

Prof. Xi LI

Professor

Director, Asia Case Research Centre

Associate Director, Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation

FT Chinese Column

What AI Generated Content Do We Actually Need?

6 Aug 2026

When Algorithms Become Consumers: How the AI Agent Economy Is Reshaping the Consumer Industry

27 Feb 2026

The Art of Pricing in the Digital Age

25 Jul 2025

Prof. Yan XIONG

Associate Professor

MAA Programme Director

FT Chinese Column

Only the Market Can Unlock the Value of Data Assets

23 Jul 2026

AI Investment Bubble?

25 Dec 2025

The Rise of Alternative Data: Credit Market Analysis in the AI Era

17 Apr 2025

Prof. Zhenhui Jack JIANG

Professor of Innovation and Information Management

Padma and Hari Harilela Professor in Strategic Information Management

Director, AI Evaluation Lab

FT Chinese Column

The ‘Smartest’ AI Isn’t Necessarily the Best AI Trader

9 Jul 2026

When AI Hallucinates: The Hidden Risks in the Global Large-Model Race

22 Jan 2026

Multimodal AI: Image Generation Capabilities and Safety Challenges

20 Mar 2025

Prof. Guojun HE

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professor in Economics

Professor in Economics

Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute

Associate Director, Institute of China Economy

FT Chinese Column

When Images Are No Longer Proof: Trust and Markets in the AI Age

25 Jun 2026

When Interdependence Fades: How AI and Automation Are Recasting Global Trade

13 Nov 2025

The Story of Vultures, Wolves, and Humans: Assessing the Economic Value of Biodiversity

16 Jan 2025

Prof. Heiwai TANG

Associate Vice-President (Global), The University of Hong Kong

Associate Dean (External Relations), HKU Business School

Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics

Director, Asia Global Institute

Director, APEC Study Center

Associate Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy

FT Chinese Column

A New Era of Globalisation Co-led by Chinese Enterprises Has Arrived

11 Jun 2026

China’s Macroeconomic Shift: A Call for Firms to Go Global

6 Feb 2026

Silver Lining of Trade War 2.0 for the Chinese Economy

1 May 2025

Our Authors

Prof. Haishi LI

Prof. Weiming ZHU

Prof. Wen ZHOU

Prof. Haipeng SHEN

Prof. Xi LI

Prof. Yan XIONG

Prof. Zhenhui Jack JIANG

Prof. Guojun HE

Prof. Heiwai TANG

Prof. Haishi LI

Assistant Professor

FT Chinese Column

From Anti-Dumping to Trade Wars: Past, Present, and Future of Trade Policy and Disputes

24 Sep 2026

Beyond Tariffs: Rebalancing the U.S.-China Deficit through Strategic Capital Integration

14 May 2026

Prof. Weiming ZHU

Assistant Dean (Open Programme of Executive Education)

Associate Professor

FT Chinese Column

With AI boosting productivity, what’s still holding companies back?

17 Sep 2026

AI Shopping Agents: Reshaping the Power Dynamics of Mobile Internet

3 Apr 2024

The Story of Hong Kong’s Ride-Hailing Services: Then and Now

2 Nov 2025

Prof. Wen ZHOU

Associate Professor

Associate Director, Asia Case Research Centre

FT Chinese Column

Hong Kong Retail Gasoline Net Profit Margin Surges 6‑Fold Over Two Decades

20 Aug 2026

Prof. Haipeng SHEN

Associate Vice-President (Teaching and Learning - TPG)

Associate Dean (EMBA and IMBA)

Patrick S C Poon Professor in Analytics and Innovation

Chair of Business Analytics and Innovation

FT Chinese Column

DELTA+T²: When Trust Replaces Analytics as the Defining Bottleneck in the AI Era

13 Aug 2026

Prof. Xi LI

Professor

Director, Asia Case Research Centre

Associate Director, Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation

FT Chinese Column

What AI Generated Content Do We Actually Need?

6 Aug 2026

When Algorithms Become Consumers: How the AI Agent Economy Is Reshaping the Consumer Industry

27 Feb 2026

The Art of Pricing in the Digital Age

25 Jul 2025

Prof. Yan XIONG

Associate Professor

MAA Programme Director

FT Chinese Column

Only the Market Can Unlock the Value of Data Assets

23 Jul 2026

AI Investment Bubble?

25 Dec 2025

The Rise of Alternative Data: Credit Market Analysis in the AI Era

17 Apr 2025

Prof. Zhenhui Jack JIANG

Professor of Innovation and Information Management

Padma and Hari Harilela Professor in Strategic Information Management

Director, AI Evaluation Lab

FT Chinese Column

The ‘Smartest’ AI Isn’t Necessarily the Best AI Trader

9 Jul 2026

When AI Hallucinates: The Hidden Risks in the Global Large-Model Race

22 Jan 2026

Multimodal AI: Image Generation Capabilities and Safety Challenges

20 Mar 2025

Prof. Guojun HE

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professor in Economics

Professor in Economics

Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute

Associate Director, Institute of China Economy

FT Chinese Column

When Images Are No Longer Proof: Trust and Markets in the AI Age

25 Jun 2026

When Interdependence Fades: How AI and Automation Are Recasting Global Trade

13 Nov 2025

The Story of Vultures, Wolves, and Humans: Assessing the Economic Value of Biodiversity

16 Jan 2025

Prof. Heiwai TANG

Associate Vice-President (Global), The University of Hong Kong

Associate Dean (External Relations), HKU Business School

Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics

Director, Asia Global Institute

Director, APEC Study Center

Associate Director, Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy

FT Chinese Column

A New Era of Globalisation Co-led by Chinese Enterprises Has Arrived

11 Jun 2026

China’s Macroeconomic Shift: A Call for Firms to Go Global

6 Feb 2026

Silver Lining of Trade War 2.0 for the Chinese Economy

1 May 2025