The United States allowed a national emergency declaration on Hong Kong to expire this week while maintaining restrictions on the city’s preferential treatment. Washington cited insufficient autonomy from mainland China. Hong Kong welcomed the move but faced no change in key policies.
US President Donald Trump did not renew the declaration for another year, allowing it to expire. The measure had supported the end of Hong Kong’s special status in trade and export controls.
A State Department spokesperson stated that Executive Order 13936 remains in effect. Washington continues to view Hong Kong as lacking sufficient autonomy from China under specified US laws.
The Hong Kong government welcomed the expiration on Friday. The US Treasury confirmed the move does not affect the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 or the Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020.
