China announced that the United States will not renew the executive order that stripped Hong Kong of its preferential trading status, effectively restoring many U.S. trade privileges to the city. The move follows commitments made during last year’s U.S.–China trade talks and was confirmed by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which delisted former sanctions on leaders John Lee and Carrie Lam. While some sanctions remain under a separate law, Hong Kong officials welcomed the “positive shift” and see it as a step toward normalizing economic ties. The decision may also ease broader U.S.–China relations ahead of President Trump’s planned visit to China later this year.
Original Article Source Link:
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/17/g-s1-134269/china-signals-possible-return-of-u-s-trade-privileges-for-hong-kong