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US ends state of emergency over Hong Kong security threat
🇭🇰 Hong Kong /Disasters & Emergencies

US ends state of emergency over Hong Kong security threat

From Hong Kong Free Press · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The United States has ended its state of emergency concerning Hong Kong's national security law.
  • The emergency declaration, first issued in 2020, had led to the removal of Hong Kong's preferential trade status.
  • While the emergency is over, some sanctions remain, and it's unclear if trade treatment will be restored.

The United States has decided not to extend its state of emergency related to the national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong. U.S. officials confirmed the termination of the emergency declaration, which was initially put in place in July 2020.

an important step in implementing the consensus reached during economic and trade talks between both sides.

— China's Ministry of CommerceLauding the U.S. decision to end the state of emergency.

This declaration had led former President Donald Trump to strip Hong Kong of its preferential trade treatment, citing China's actions as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security. The emergency order had been renewed annually until now. China's Ministry of Commerce welcomed the move, calling it an "important step" in implementing agreements from economic and trade talks.

Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to justify differential treatment in relation to the PRC.

— U.S. State Department spokespersonClarifying that the executive order regarding Hong Kong's autonomy remains in effect despite the end of the national emergency.

However, a U.S. State Department spokesperson clarified that while the national emergency is ending, Trump's earlier executive order, which stated Hong Kong was no longer sufficiently autonomous for differential treatment, "otherwise remains in effect." A Treasury Department spokesperson added that 39 individuals affected by the emergency's expiration still face sanctions under a different act, noting that this is part of sanctions modernization efforts to avoid duplication.

The non-renewal is consistent with sanctions modernization efforts.

— U.S. Treasury Department spokespersonExplaining the rationale behind continuing some sanctions while ending the broader emergency declaration.

A Hong Kong government spokesperson acknowledged the "positive shift" in U.S. policy and expressed hope for the resumption of "normal economic and trade exchanges." The city had previously enjoyed special economic status with the U.S. since its handover from Britain in 1997, but Beijing's imposition of the security law, which criminalizes offenses like subversion, significantly impacted its autonomy and financial hub status.

positive shift

— Hong Kong government spokespersonAcknowledging the U.S. policy change and expressing hope for renewed economic ties.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hong Kong Free Press in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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