The Trump administration allowed a national emergency declaration to expire, leading the United States to lift sanctions on nine Hong Kong officials.
Under the original executive order, the United States imposed six rounds of sanctions targeting 48 Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials from 2020 to 2025.
The lifting of sanctions on the nine individuals was described as a “friendly gesture” and “significant”. However, little changed for dozens of others whose sanctions had expired but who were placed on a different list.
Sanctions compliance requirements for most businesses remained largely unchanged. The move followed the expiration of a national emergency declaration that had ended Hong Kong’s preferential treatment in trade and export controls.