The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today (21st) that it welcomes the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body expert panel's ruling that the United States' rules on origin marking of Hong Kong products are not in compliance with WTO rules.
The government issued a press release stating that the panel of experts has submitted a ruling report to the dispute settlement body, clearly ruling that the origin marking regulations implemented by the United States on Hong Kong products do not meet the most-favored-nation treatment requirements for origin marking in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and Completely deny the claim of the United States invoking the security exception clause, and suggest that the United States correct its provisions.
Qiu Yinghua welcomed the expert group's full affirmation of Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory.
Qiu Yinghua: The ruling proves that the United States is ignoring international trade rules
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Yau Ying-wah said that the expert group is welcome to fully affirm the status of Hong Kong, China as a separate customs territory.
The relevant ruling once again proves that the United States ignores international trade rules and attempts to unilaterally implement discriminatory and unfair regulations, unreasonably suppress Hong Kong products and enterprises, and politicize economic and trade issues.
He pointed out that the United States forced Hong Kong products to change the origin mark, which is entirely out of political motives, weaponizing trade and trying to interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs.
The U.S.'s schemes are cheap and have ulterior motives. They will not succeed and will not be accepted by the international community.
The regulations imposed by the US on Hong Kong products are not only unreasonable, but also seriously violate WTO rules, completely disregard the rules-based multilateral trading system, and irresponsibly damage the rights and interests of Hong Kong as a WTO member. The SAR government strongly condemns it.
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Qiu Yinghua emphasized that the expert group has clearly refuted the erroneous and unfounded views of the US in the report, and clearly ruled that the US's actions violated WTO rules.
He pointed out that he had immediately written to the U.S. Trade Representative, urging the U.S. side to respect the ruling and immediately withdraw its illegal measures.
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Qiu Yinghua: Urge the U.S. to Respect the Ruling
Under "One Country, Two Systems", the unique status of the SAR is conferred by the country through the Basic Law.
According to Articles 116, 151 and 152 of the Basic Law, the SAR is a separate customs territory, which can participate in international organizations such as the WTO in the name of "Hong Kong, China", and cooperate with various economies in the world Establish mutually beneficial economic and trade relations.
Hong Kong's unique status has always been widely recognized and respected by the international community, and its rights and obligations in the WTO are the same as those of other WTO members.
Marking Hong Kong products with the "Made in Hong Kong" mark has been accepted internationally for many years. This is not only in line with the fact that Hong Kong is a separate customs territory and the relevant WTO regulations, but also provides consumers with clear and correct information on the origin of origin.
From November 10, 2020, the United States requires that all products exported from Hong Kong to the United States can no longer be labeled as "Hong Kong" but must be labeled as "China".
The SAR government immediately argued for it through bilateral and multilateral channels.
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body agreed to the request of Hong Kong, China at its meeting on February 22, 2021, and established an expert group to hear the dispute.