US allows parts of Trump's Hong Kong sanctions to lapse, but insists the territory's autonomous status is still revoked, according to Reuters.
The United States has allowed parts of former President Donald Trump's Hong Kong sanctions order to lapse, but Washington insists the territory's autonomous status remains revoked, reported Reuters.
The Treasury Department stated that only the national emergency portions of Trump's 2020 order had expired. This order had sanctioned individuals linked to China's security crackdown and suspended Hong Kong's special trade privileges.
The State Department emphasized that Hong Kong remains insufficiently autonomous to justify differential treatment from China under US law. Sanctions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020 remain in force.
The Treasury confirmed that sanctions continue on 38 of the 49 individuals targeted under the order, describing the move as part of efforts to streamline sanctions without duplication.
Hong Kong had previously benefited from separate trade status with the US after its 1997 handover from Britain. That status was removed in 2020 when Washington aligned tariffs and export controls with those applied to China.
China's commerce ministry welcomed the US decision, calling it a step toward restoring Hong Kong's status and improving bilateral ties. It urged Washington to respect China's sovereignty and resume normal trade exchanges.
The Hong Kong government, chosen by a pro-Beijing committee, also welcomed the move. Critics argue that the security law has eroded freedoms promised under the handover, while supporters contend that it restored stability after the 2019 protests.
