Goods prepared in Hong Kong for export to the United States will have to be labelled “Made in China” after September 25, according to a US government notice.
The latest step will see Hong Kong companies subject to the same trade war tariffs levied on mainland Chinese exporters, should they make products subject to these duties, said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection notice.
Last month, President Donald Trump retaliated to Beijing’s imposition of tough new security law in Hong Kong by removing special trading privileges for the financial hub, which in 2018 sold goods worth US$6.3 billion to the United States.
Some US media say the impact of the modified labelling will be limited because most goods imported from the territory are from mainland China, with few items actually produced in Hong Kong.
US imports include electronic devices and precious metals.
Hong Kong’s government protested the announcement, which it said ignored Hong Kong’s “unique role” as a member of the World Trade Organization. The city’s government will discuss the decision with the U.S. via its office in Washington D.C., according to its statement, and didn’t rule out taking action against the U.S. decision.