Media365
Hong Kong is exploring the creation of a specialised mediation panel to handle international commodities disputes, as the city steps up efforts to position itself as a regional hub for metals trading, yuan-denominated commodities products and physical gold storage, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Thursday.
The proposed panel would focus on resolving disputes across the commodities supply chain – from mining and production to trading, warehousing and delivery – and would be developed in cooperation with the International Organisation for Mediation, Chan told hundreds of traders and industry executives at the LME Asia Metals Seminar 2026, in Hong Kong.
The organisation, headquartered in Hong Kong, was formally established last year after 33 countries signed a convention supporting the use of mediation to settle cross-border commercial and state disputes.
“This initiative complements our strategy to develop Hong Kong into a leading gold and commodities trading hub, and helps facilitate cross-border transactions, mitigate risks and strengthen market confidence among global market participants,” Chan said at the seminar, the flagship annual event of the London Metal Exchange (LME), which is a subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX).
He also signalled a broader push to deepen the city’s role in yuan-based commodities trading, saying Hong Kong saw strong potential for additional yuan-denominated products aimed at both mainland Chinese and overseas investors.
“China now accounts for over half of global base metal consumption,” Chan said. “Its continued investments in new energy, artificial intelligence and the tech sector will certainly sustain this demand for years to come.”
