U.S. – Hong Kong’s U.S. Exports to be Labeled “Made in China”

Vol. 1181 | 14 Aug 2020

On July 14, 2020, U.S. President Trump issued Executive Order 13936 on Hong Kong Normalization, in accordance with the suspension of the Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, requiring imported goods produced in Hong Kong to indicate “China” as their origin.

Goods produced in Hong Kong have historically indicated their origin as “Hong Kong” under 19. U.S.C 1304, even after Hong Kong’s reversion to the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China (China) in 1997. The President has issued the Executive Order due to the determination that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently independent to justify differential treatment in relation to China.

The change is applicable as of July 29, 2020. However, a transition period of 45 days from the date of Notice publication in the Federal Register is granted to importers in order to implement the change. Unless exempted, goods produced in Hong Kong for consumption to the U.S. after September 25, 2020, must be marked to indicate “China” as their origin.

The notice, published in the U.S. Federal Register, can be viewed at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-08-11/pdf/2020-17599.pdf

For questions, please contact Stephanie Bilotti (Stephanie.Bilotti@intertek.com, +1 862-316-5877) or Pratik Ichhaporia (pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com, +1-847-212-8273)