HKSAR gov't decries U.S. so-called "reciprocal tariffs"

4/4/2025 5:56

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday said it firmly opposes and deplores the U.S. so-called "reciprocal tariffs" as well as the elimination of the duty-free de minimis treatment for items from Hong Kong effective from May 2.

The U.S. measures, unreasonable and grossly inconsistent with the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, willfully undermine the multilateral trading system which is the cornerstone for international trade, said a spokesperson for the HKSAR government.

The HKSAR government firmly requests the United States to withdraw its so-called "reciprocal tariffs," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that Hong Kong, a free port, supports and upholds free trade all along. It has never imposed any tariffs on imported goods including those from the United States, which makes the imposition of the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" illogical.

As for the duty-free de minimis treatment for postal items mailed from Hong Kong to the United States, Hongkong Post has requested the U.S. side to promptly clarify the matter so as not to cause inconvenience to the public.

The HKSAR government will take actions to defend Hong Kong's legitimate interests, including filing a complaint in accordance with the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, the spokesperson said.