Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan has slammed steep US tariff hikes on Chinese goods, calling them “blackmail” and suggesting they are a matter of national security.
In an interview with local newspaper Sing Tao, published on Monday, Chan said the tariffs disregarded the law and did not comply with international practices.
Chan’s remarks come amid global economic uncertainties and recession fears sparked by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on most of his country’s trading partners and an intensifying trade war between the United States and China.
“They do as they please, and to put it bluntly, this is blackmail,” Chan said in Chinese, adding that the US wanted other countries to align with its wishes.
Chan also said that Trump’s levies did not benefit the United States and also caused global harm.
In another interview published by state-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao on Monday, the chief secretary said that national security was “not limited” to just military action.
See also: Hong Kong businesses forced to weigh options as Trump’s tariffs squeeze access to US market
“The United States’ recent so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ also threaten financial security… making citizens even more aware of the importance of national security,” he said in Chinese.
“In the face of unreasonable foreign oppression, Hong Kong citizens need to be even more united and uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Shares in Hong Kong plunged over 13 percent last Monday – their worst day since the Asian financial crisis in 1997 – following a collapse in Asian markets as Beijing’s retaliation against Trump’s levies ramped up the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
In an abrupt reversal, Trump announced on Wednesday a 90-day pause on most tariffs, but imposed higher duties on Chinese goods.
US levies on products from China, including Hong Kong, now stand at 145 per cent. China’s retaliatory duties on US imports are currently at 125 per cent.
Trump has said the tariffs would protect American industries, but critics have said the move would hurt consumers, as it would significantly drive up costs.
Since Trump’s reversal on Wednesday, Hong Kong stocks have risen, including on Monday.
In another U-turn, the US announced on Friday that smartphones, semiconductors, and other electronics would be exempt from the tariffs on Chinese goods, although Trump warned that the reprieve would only be temporary.
