One-stop service platform by the Trade and Industry Department on US' trade restrictive measures and trade conflict between the US and the Mainland:
Tel: 2398 5405; Email: acr_reg@tid.gov.hk
On 2 April 2025, the US President signed an executive order imposing a reciprocal tariff on all imports from all trading partners. All articles imported into the US shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 10% effective from 5 April 2025 and all articles from specified trading partners imported into the US shall be subject to the specified country-specific ad valorem rates of duty effective from 9 April 2025. On the same date, the US President also signed an executive order announcing that duty-free de minimis treatment shall no longer be available for products of China (which include products of Hong Kong) imported into the US effective from 2 May 2025 and such imported merchandise shall be subject to additional duties.
Irrespective of the US’ announcements above, on 8 April and 9 April 2025, the US President signed executive orders (i) modifying reciprocal tariff rates of trading partners; and (ii) increasing the de minimis tariff for products of China (including products of Hong Kong) imported into the US starting 2 May 2025.
The HKSAR Government expressed strong disapproval of and discontent with the US’ imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff as well as its elimination of the duty-free de minimis treatment for and imposition of duty on covered goods from Hong Kong. Once again, the HKSAR Government firmly requests the US to withdraw its so-called reciprocal tariff measures.
On 12 May 2025, the US and China issued a joint statement on US-China economic and trade meeting in Geneva. Subsequently, the US President on the same date signed an executive order (i) modifying reciprocal tariff rate for articles of China (including articles of Hong Kong) to 10% effective from 14 May 2025, by suspending 24 percentage points of the rate set forth in Executive Order 14257 for an initial period of 90 days and the retention of the remaining ad valorem rate of 10% on those articles pursuant to the terms of said order, among others; and (ii) decreasing the de minimis tariff for products of China (including products of Hong Kong) starting 14 May 2025. Effective from 14 May 2025, all relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under US$800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption are subject to a decreased duty rate of either 54% of their value or a tariff of US$100 per item.
Latest developments
On 30 July 2025, the US President signed an executive order suspending duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments globally effective from 29 August 2025 and announcing duty rates for international postal shipments, with provisions superseding previous executive orders with respect to the assessment of duties as applied to low-value products from China (including Hong Kong): (i) imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under US$800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges; and (ii) for covered goods shipped through the international postal system, packages will instead be assessed duties according to either ad valorem duty or specific duty methodology. The specific duty methodology will be available for six months, after which all applicable shipments must comply with the ad valorem duty methodology.
On 11 August 2025, the US and China issued the joint statement on US-China economic and trade meeting in Stockholm. On the same date, the US President signed an executive order further modifying the reciprocal tariff rate and continuing the suspension of heightened tariffs on articles of China (including articles of Hong Kong) until 10 November 2025. The current 10% reciprocal tariff on articles of China (including articles of Hong Kong) remains in effect during this suspension period.
For details, please refer to: