Trade Policy Reviews of Hong Kong, China
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy Review Mechanism aims to enhance the transparency and understanding of Members' trade policies and practices, thereby facilitating the smooth functioning of the multilateral trading system. Hong Kong, China (HKC) is a founding member of the WTO, and is subject to regular Trade Policy Reviews. The latest review took place in 2023.
Trade Policy Review in 2023
The ninth WTO Trade Policy Review of HKC was successfully conducted on 6 and 8 December 2023. WTO Members once again commended HKC for its continued adoption of free and open trade policies, and for maintaining strong fiscal and financial fundamentals even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trade Policy Review examined HKC's trade and investment regimes in detail, covering trade in both goods and services including green and pro-innovation government procurement policy, protection of intellectual property rights and support measures to SMEs, as well as new measures to enhance HKC's growth and competitiveness including various initiatives on investment promotion, green transition and high-quality development. It also gave an overview of its economic environment and deepening trade relationships with Mainland China and other trading partners, including the expanding network of Free Trade Agreements and Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements.
During the review meetings, HKC updated WTO Members on the latest strategies of HKC in fostering its long-term, high-quality development and competitiveness, including efforts in attracting talents and enterprises, implementing the innovation and technology blueprint, fostering an inclusive and sustainable economy that entails green transition and enhanced support for women and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in exploring business opportunities. HKC's efforts, amongst others, in enhancing intellectual property right protection in the present-day digital environment, were also elaborated. WTO Members were also assured that HKC will continue to maintain its staunch support to the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, continue to work with all WTO Members to address the common challenges, and advance ongoing WTO negotiations and reform discussions, which would ultimately strengthen the multilateral trading system and benefit the global economy.
- The report provided by HKC for the Review is available HERE
. - The report prepared by the WTO Secretariat for the Review is available HERE.
- The opening statement by Ms Maggie Wong, the then Director-General of Trade and Industry, is available HERE.
- The responding statement by Ms Maggie Wong, the then Director-General of Trade and Industry, is available HERE.
- The relevant press release is available HERE.
- WTO's webpage on the Review of HKC is available HERE.