Letters | Why the loss of the ‘Made in Hong Kong’ label is no trifling matter

I have no intention of denigrating merchandise manufactured in mainland China as inferior to goods made in Hong Kong. But with the suspension of Hong Kong’s preferential trade status, the US government has announced that from September 25, merchandise exported from the city to the US would have to be labelled “Made in China” instead of “Made in Hong Kong”. This would truly be a nightmare for Hong Kong businesses.

The move put Hong Kong in danger of having its goods hit by the same tariffs as businesses in mainland China. Some have argued that the impact of this would not be very severe as Hong Kong exports to the US amount to just US$3.7 billion, or 0.1 per cent of total exports. But it would be a mistake to underestimate this impact.

Thankfully, the US later clarified that the city would not face the same tariffs, but it’s clear Hong Kong is being used as a pawn in the US’ trade war with China.

Even though Hong Kong-made merchandise may not be superior to that from mainland China, the brand image that Hong Kong manufacturers have worked so hard to build up should not be decimated just like that. These hardworking manufacturers have been unfairly caught up in the whirlwind of US-China rivalry.