Hong Kong will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against new US tariffs, the local government announced today.
US President Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and ended a rule that allowed low-value packages to enter the US without paying taxes.
The measures prompted China to request consultations with the US regarding WTO disputes, as well as announce retaliatory tariffs on selected US imports and an antitrust investigation against Google.
In a statement, the Hong Kong government condemned the US measures as "inconsistent with WTO rules" and said they ignored the city's status as a special customs territory. It called on the US to reverse its decisions.
This is not the first time Hong Kong has complained about the US. During Donald Trump's previous term, Hong Kong complained about a US demand that the city's exports be labelled "Made in China". In 2022, the WTO ruled that the US had erred in requiring Hong Kong products to be so labelled.
The WTO confirmed on Tuesday that it had received notification of China's request regarding tariffs imposed on its goods. The move gives the two sides 60 days to resolve their differences, failing which the case could be referred to the trade body's three-judge panel.
However, the WTO's dispute settlement process has been stalled in recent years as multiple US administrations have blocked the appointment of judges to its appeals court.
Separately, Hong Kong Post said late Thursday that it would continue to suspend deliveries of packages containing goods to the United States until further notice, despite its American counterparts lifting a ban on packages from the city and other parts of China.
The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday that it would no longer accept packages from China, including Hong Kong. It changed its plans on Wednesday but did not give a reason, saying it would work with Customs and Border Protection to implement the new tariff collection process to avoid delivery disruptions.
Although the ban was short-lived and the reversal came the same day for those living in the Hong Kong time zone, it confused those who wanted to send messages to the US from the mall.
It has also raised concerns about the potential impact on online shopping platforms such as Shein and Temu, popular among younger shoppers in the US for cheap clothing and other products, which are usually shipped directly from China.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. imported about $427 billion worth of goods from China in 2023. Consumer electronics, including cell phones, computers, and other tech accessories, make up the largest import categories.
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