Due to continuing political repression in Hong Kong by the Chinese government, the Trump Administration has retaliated against China by taking substantive, though not overwhelming, retaliatory actions against products from Hong Kong. U.S. goods and services trade with Hong Kong totaled an estimated $66.9 billion in 2018. Exports were $50.1 billion; imports were $16.8 billion. … merchandise exports totaled $37.3 billion; merchandise imports totaled $6.3 billion. Thus, the U.S. goods trade surplus with Hong Kong was $31.0 billion in 2018, one not rivaled by US trade with many other nations.
The President left it to Customs to interpret and apply the new restrictions. From the standpoint of US importers there is one major change. Goods marked “Made in Hong Kong” to comply with US country of origin marking rules will now have to be marked “Made in China”. The effective date of this change is for affected goods entering U.S. customs territory on or after November 9, 2020, which is an administrative extension of 45 calendar days from the prior applicable date of September 25th. On and after that date, it will not matter if the product is made entirely in Hong Kong of Hong Kong-origin materials – it must be marked “Made in China” with only the specific regulatory marking exemptions remaining applicable.
We will continue to monitor this situation and promptly let you know of any material changes to this policy.
Robin W. Grover
