US ends HK emergency order that stripped special trade status

The US has confirmed it will not extend the Hong Kong-related national emergency under Executive Order 13936 upon its expiration on July 14, bringing an end to the measure, China's commerce ministry said on Friday in a statement. 

The order, issued in July 2020 during US President Donald Trump's first term, stripped Hong Kong of its special trade status following Beijing's imposition of a national security law in the city.

The Hong Kong government says the US decision not to renew the order marks an important step in implementing the consensus reached during the China-US economic and trade consultations and that maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability serves the common interests of both China and the US, and also in line with the expectations of the international community.