Hong Kong to File Complaint with WTO Over US Tariffs, Official Says

Hong Kong will lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over recent US tariffs on the city, asserting that the United States has entirely ignored its position as a separate customs territory, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said on Tuesday.

“This is absolutely inconsistent with WTO rules. Of course, they have totally disregarded Hong Kong as a separate customs territory,” Chan, the second-highest official in the China-ruled city, told reporters.

“We will file a complaint to the WTO regarding this unreasonable arrangement,” he added, without providing further details.

Chan’s remarks follow a US decision to impose a 10% tariff on goods from Hong Kong, as US President Donald Trump targets Chinese imports.

Last week, the US Postal Service initially suspended all inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong before reversing the decision. The brief halt caused confusion among retailers and express shipping firms regarding the new tariffs.

“All I can say is the policies are mercurial,” Chan said.

Trump’s measure also included the removal of the “de minimis” duty exemption for packages valued under $800, a move aimed at curbing the flow of fentanyl and precursor chemicals into the US.

Hong Kong has long been recognised as a free and open trading hub. However, Beijing’s imposition of a sweeping national security law in 2020 drew criticism from Washington, leading the US to revoke Hong Kong’s special status under American law, heightening tensions between the two governments.

Following that decision, the US required goods made in Hong Kong for export to the US to be labelled as made in China, stripping the city of a long-standing competitive advantage in global trade.

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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