FILE – The U.S. and Chinese language flag on the Nice Corridor of the Folks previous to the state dinner of President Donald Trump and Chinese language President Xi Jinping on Might 14, 2026, in Beijing.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
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Mark Schiefelbein/AP
HONG KONG — China signaled on Friday that the US may restore Hong Kong ‘s preferential privileges, saying Washington confirmed it is not going to renew an government order that revoked town’s particular buying and selling standing.
The Commerce Ministry mentioned that the U.S. made commitments on Hong Kong points and different issues in the course of the U.S.-China commerce talks in Madrid final 12 months. The U.S. lately confirmed to China that the President’s Government Order on Hong Kong Normalization would finish, the ministry mentioned in an announcement responding to media questions.
“The U.S. facet’s actions characterize an essential step in fulfilling the consensus reached in the course of the bilateral financial and commerce talks. China appreciates it,” it mentioned.
It isn’t instantly clear what all of the implications of the choice are. The White Home referred questions concerning the government order lapsing to the Treasury Division.
The U.S. Workplace of Overseas Belongings Management mentioned in an announcement Friday that the nationwide emergency declared within the government order had expired and that it delisted individuals who have been sanctioned underneath the order. However it mentioned individuals who stay sanctioned underneath one other act associated to Hong Kong have been added to a special sanction checklist.
The assertion confirmed Hong Kong chief John Lee and his predecessor, Carrie Lam, have been faraway from the primary checklist however added to the second.
The U.S. determination got here two months after President Donald Trump met together with his counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing. It may heat ties between them forward of Xi’s anticipated go to to the U.S. later this 12 months. Earlier this month, a pastor of a outstanding underground church who was detained in China in October was launched after Trump introduced up his case with Xi.
Trump signed the now-expired government order in July 2020, throughout his first time period in response to Beijing imposing a nationwide safety legislation that 12 months. Trump’s order was final renewed for a 12 months in July 2025.
Underneath the order, Trump mentioned Hong Kong was now not sufficiently autonomous to justify differential therapy in relation to mainland China underneath sure legal guidelines. It eradicated the preferential therapy for Hong Kong to the extent permitted by legislation and within the nationwide safety, overseas coverage, and financial curiosity of the US.
China considers the nationwide safety legislation for Hong Kong needed to revive stability within the metropolis after large anti-government protests in 2019. The professional-democracy motion again then posed one of many largest challenges to the Communist Get together in Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities because the former British colony returned to Chinese language rule in 1997.
Six years after the legislation’s introduction, many main activists, together with pro-democracy former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, have been imprisoned underneath it. Critics say the Western-style civil liberties that Beijing promised to take care of for 50 years after the handover have declined.
Hong Kong authorities mentioned in an announcement that it famous the “constructive shift within the U.S. coverage” towards town.
“Safeguarding Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability serves the widespread pursuits of China and the US, and likewise aligns with the final expectation of the worldwide neighborhood,” it mentioned.
It mentioned it hopes the U.S. will respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of legislation in Hong Kong and resume regular financial and commerce exchanges with town.
