Hong Kong suspends U.S. package deliveries over ‘bullying’ tariffs

The postal service for Hong Kong will cease handling packages containing goods to be delivered to the U.S. The announcement came Wednesday via a press release from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Per the announcement, Hong Kong’s Postal Service, the Hongkong Post, will stop receiving small packages carrying goods by land and sea to be delivered to the U.S., effective immediately. Mail that contains only documents won’t be impacted, it said. Starting April 27, it will stop accepting packages delivered by aircraft, as well. “Hongkong Post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the U.S. and will suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the U.S.,” the statement explained. The statement noted that the change is a retaliatory move over the Trump administration’s recent announcement that it would end a customs exception, “the duty-free de minimis treatment.” The exception allowed the U.S. to accept small-value parcels from Hong Kong, tax-free. The Trump administration also said it would increase the tariffs for postal items containing goods to the U.S.

Hong Kong’s statement also referred to the Trump administration’s actions as “unreasonable, bullying” and said it was “imposing tariffs abusively.” The retaliatory response comes amid high tensions between China and the U.S. surrounding Trump’s introduction of imposing tariffs on Chinese imports, which Hong Kong appears caught in the middle of. Last week, Trump increased tariffs on Chinese goods, bringing the total to 145%. While Beijing hit back, imposing a 125% tariff on American imports, Hong Kong did not. Still, the massive tariff’s will impact Hong Kong, as a special administration region of China.

Trump has frequently changed his mind on which countries and industries will be subject to tariffs. On Monday, Trump suggested that he may pause tariffs on the auto industry. “I’m looking at something to help some of the car companies with it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “And they need a little bit of time because they’re going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time. So I’m talking about things like that.”

After Trump increased import taxes on China to 145%, he announced he would exempt electronics from some of those tariffs. “I don’t change my mind, but I’m flexible,” Trump said Monday.