US rejects Hong Kong request for WTO panel over ‘Made in China’ labelling row
- Hong Kong requested a dispute settlement panel over US decision to force the city’s locally made goods to be labelled ‘Made in China’
- US rejection cited change in administration, with row simmering since Donald Trump removed Hong Kong’s special trading status last summer
The United States has rejected Hong Kong’s request for a dispute settlement panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Washington’s decision to label goods made in Hong Kong as “Made in China”.
Hong Kong made a request at a meeting of the WTO’s dispute settlement body in Geneva on Monday, a trade source familiar with the meeting told the South China Morning Post.
At Monday’s meeting, the United States’ delegation said it was not in a position to support the panel request, given that it is currently transitioning to a new administration.
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In response, Hong Kong said it had taken the political situation in the US into account, but still considered it necessary to proceed with its panel request.