The executive order, first signed by Donald Trump in July 2020, stripped Hong Kong of its unique economic treatment in response to Beijing’s national security law. While the White House has yet to provide official confirmation, China’s commerce ministry stated that the U.S. failed to renew the directive by this week’s deadline. This decision aligns with understandings reached during recent diplomatic discussions between the two nations, which also resulted in targeted tariff reductions.

Restoring this status would decouple Hong Kong’s trade regulations from those applied to mainland China, potentially easing restrictions on high-technology exports. Beijing’s commerce ministry characterized the development as a positive adjustment that meets international expectations, urging Washington to further normalize economic exchanges. While the Hong Kong government welcomed the lapse of the order, the move remains a point of contention among critics who argue the 2020 security law fundamentally eroded the city’s autonomy following its 1997 handover.