This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
According to a U.S. government document, fresh tariffs placed by U.S. President Donald Trump on imports from China may furthermore apply to items from Hong Kong, indicating that Washington has revoked the state’s designation as a separate buying entity.
” Products of China and Hong Kong ]other than exempted categories] and other than products for personal use included in accompanied baggage of persons arriving in the United States, shall be subject to an additional 10 %  , ad valorem , rate of duty”, according to Department of Homeland Security , implementation guidelines , for Trump’s Feb. 1, 2025 Executive Order.
To “address the chemical opioid supply chain in the People’s Republic of China,” the attempt imposes duties on imported goods.
The document cites a , July 17, 2020, Executive Order , from the previous Trump administration, which states that China ‘s , ongoing political crackdown , in the city represents” an unusual and extraordinary threat” because it “fundamentally undermine]s ] Hong Kong’s autonomy”.
According to the order,” The United States shall have the power to suspend or eliminate any other and preferential treatment for Hong Kong as permitted by law, in accordance with the United States ‘ national security, foreign policy, and economic interests,” citing Hong Kong ‘s , 2020 National Security Law.
” Under this legislation, the people of Hong Kong may experience life in prison for what China considers to be works of independence or , subversion of state power—which may contain works like last year’s common anti-government protests”, the Order said, citing , the lack of prosecution by jury , and the possibility of key prosecutions.
The new levies include deductions for charitable and aid supplies, as well as for all other goods, yet those valued less than US$ 800.
Authorities said the move is good a charge by the U. S. government to stop Taiwanese firms from , evading tariffs , by sending products to Hong Kong and , claiming that they originated it.
” The message is quite clear”, Sunny Cheung, brother for China research at the Jamestown Foundation, told RFA Cantonese in a recent interview. ” China’s major shipping port has always been Hong Kong, and it is unaffected by taxes on Chinese products.”
” Today, Hong Kong is being included]in those tariffs], which can be seen as an effort to connect a hole and take a tougher text”, Cheung said. It will have a stronger barrier influence on China, it may say.
He cited recent concerns in Washington regarding the purchase of significant strategic port infrastructure along the Panama Canal by Hong Kong businessman Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison as evidence that the Trump presidency is acutely aware of direct ways in which China obtains what it wants.
Cheung claimed that the levies now only use to products shipped through Hong Kong and that they no longer apply to those produced in China or Hong Kong.
” That would be a more nuclear-level attack”, Cheung said.
While the balance of trade has fluctuated over the years, the United States has always been in the top 10 businesses for products exported from Hong Kong, which , topped US$ 5.9 billion  , for the whole of last year.
However, according to the Hong Kong Post, packages and parcels sent to the United States will be suspended starting on February 5, but services for packages containing documents will remain intact.
The postal service stated in a statement that” Hongkong Post may not send any postal products containing items destined to the United States with immediate effect unless a” proper passage has been fully and effectively filed with the United States Customs and Border Protection in accordance with United States law.
Postal products that entered the United States on or after February 4, 2025, were said to be returned to Hong Kong.
According to the statement, a “formal entry” must be made through a customs broker and must be made in accordance with the import regulations and payment of duties.
