WASHINGTON/HONG KONG (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Friday ordered his administration to start the process of eliminating special U.S. treatment for Hong Kong to penalize China, but stopped short of calling an instant end to privileges that have assisted the territory remain a global monetary center.
In making the announcement, Trump utilized a few of his most difficult rhetoric yet versus China, saying Beijing had broken its word over Hong Kong’s autonomy by transferring to enforce new national security legislation and the area no longer necessitated U.S. economic advantages.
At a White Home press conference, Trump called this a disaster for individuals of Hong Kong, China and the world, having actually currently attacked Beijing over the coronavirus pandemic, which began in China. Trump stated China’s “malfeasance” was responsible for massive suffering and economic damage worldwide.
” We will act to revoke Hong Kong’s favoritism as a different custom-mades and take a trip territory from the rest of China,” Trump said, adding that Washington would likewise impose sanctions on individuals seen as responsible for “smothering – definitely smothering – Hong Kong’s liberty.”
He did not name any of the prospective sanctions targets. Trump stated his announcement would “impact the full range of contracts we have with Hong Kong,” from the U.S. extradition treaty to export controls on dual-use technologies and more “with couple of exceptions.”
” Our actions will be strong, our actions will be significant,” Trump added.
China’s state-run Global Times paper called Trump’s announcement “recklessly arbitrary.”
Trump offered no time frame for the relocations, suggesting he might be trying to buy time before choosing whether to implement the most extreme measures, which h