The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed strong disapproval of and discontent with the US' further imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff.

Starting May 2, the US will eliminate the duty-free de minimis treatment for covered goods from Hong Kong as well as increase the tariff for mail containing goods to the US.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the US no longer upholds free trade, arbitrarily undermining the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) jointly established by the international community, seriously impeding the multilateral trading system and globalisation process, and disrupting the global supply chain, adding that its measures are bullying and unreasonable.

It pointed out that the US' imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff against Hong Kong that has never implemented any tariffs is totally illogical and ungrounded, fully showing that it is a bullying act for suppressing its competitors.

The US will eliminate the duty-free de minimis treatment for postal items despatched from Hong Kong to the US from May 2, and has been continuously changing its policies unilaterally, causing a lot of confusion and inconvenience to the public.

For sending items to the US, the Hong Kong public should be prepared to pay exorbitant fees due to the US' unreasonable and bullying acts.

Hongkong Post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the US authorities. For now, Hongkong Post will temporarily maintain postal services to the US and announce later the temporary suspension arrangement for postal services to the US.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said it will continue to closely monitor and assess any unilateral measures of the US that are inconsistent with fair trade and take actions to defend Hong Kong's legitimate interests, including filing a complaint in accordance with the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.

Meanwhile, it will maintain close liaison with the business community to jointly respond to the unreasonable coercion of the US.