Hong Kong suspends US parcel service after Trump ends tariff exemption

Hong Kong’s postal authority has suspended its parcel service to and from the United States in a retaliatory move following new tariff measures by the Trump administration.

The Hong Kong government said in a statement Wednesday that Hongkong Post will immediately stop accepting packages transported by sea and will cease taking airborne parcels starting April 27.

Items limited to documents, such as letters, will not be affected.

The decision comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s executive order eliminating the de minimis rule, which previously exempted items under $800 from duties.

The new tariff structure imposes a 120% duty or a flat $100 fee per parcel from May 2, rising to $200 in June.

"The US is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively," the Hong Kong government said, warning local residents of higher delivery costs as private courier services such as FedEx and DHL become the only option.

The former British colony, now a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, had long maintained special trade privileges with the US.

These were revoked in 2020 over concerns about Beijing’s curtailing of civil liberties under the national security law.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee condemned the move in a televised address, calling the US policy “a frenzy” and accusing Washington of economic coercion.

He said Hong Kong would file a complaint at the World Trade Organization.

Beijing has already filed its own complaint with the WTO, claiming the new US tariffs—now at 145% for most Chinese-origin goods—violate global trade rules.