Trump No Longer 'Supporting Hong Kong'? Washington Ends Hong Kong Emergency Status, China's Foreign Ministry: Welcome Positive Adjustments by US

The United States has ended its 'national emergency' concerning Hong Kong, which had been in place for six years, resulting in the cancellation of certain Hong Kong-related sanctions. China has welcomed this development, but it remains uncertain whether Washington will reinstate Hong Kong's trade preferential treatment as a financial center.

Last Friday, U.S. officials confirmed that the decision was made not to extend the 'national emergency' declared over Hong Kong issues, leading to the cancellation of some related sanctions.

In 2020, during his first term in office, President Trump issued an executive order stating that Beijing's imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong constituted an 'unusual and extraordinary threat' to U.S. national security, due to China undermining Hong Kong's autonomy. As a result, Hong Kong's trade preferential treatment was revoked.

This executive order had been extended annually by the White House until it expired on July 14, 2026, without renewal.

China's Ministry of Commerce welcomed this development, issuing a statement last Friday stating that Washington's move fulfilled commitments made during bilateral economic and trade consultations, and indicating that U.S. policy toward Hong Kong is adjusting in a 'positive direction.'

However, a State Department spokesperson said that although Trump decided to end the 'national emergency,' the earlier executive order 'remains in effect in other respects.'

The spokesperson added that under U.S. law and the terms outlined in the executive order, 'Hong Kong no longer possesses a sufficient degree of autonomy, and therefore the United States has no basis for treating Hong Kong differently from the People's Republic of China.'

It remains unclear whether Washington will restore Hong Kong's trade preferential treatment as a financial hub. Hong Kong previously enjoyed special economic status from the U.S. and received preferential treatment on issues such as export controls.

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