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.
04:45
US, China and the “doomsday scenario” for the global trading system
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.
Hong Kong’s delegation told the meeting that the measures were “blatantly discriminatory and fail to recognise that Hong Kong is a separate customs territory and a WTO member in its own right”.
The representative added that it placed “unnecessary burden” on Hong Kong businesses, claimed that it caused “confusion and concern” to consumers and the markets, and undermined the “Hong Kong brand”.
They added that rules of origin should not be used to “obtain a political end”, according to the source.