Hong Kong leader John Lee announced plans to sign more free trade pacts to diversify the city's risk amid the global trade war. Lee criticized the US for undermining the established rules of world trade with its tariffs. Despite being affected by US tariffs, Hong Kong will remain a free port and has no plans for retaliatory tariffs. To mitigate the impact, Hong Kong will focus on strengthening trade and business linkages in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and is negotiating investment agreements with Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and Peru.