Hong Kong industry leader says ‘impossible to do business’ under shifting US tariffs
Head of Federation of Hong Kong Industries says local firms should ‘wait and see’ to decide next steps amid erratic moves by President Trump
The erratic tariff announcements by US President Donald Trump have created an environment where it is “impossible for anyone to do business”, according to a Hong Kong industry leader, who has said the shifting policies mean local firms must “wait and see” to decide on their next steps.
Steve Chuang Tzu-hsiung, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, shared his concerns on Thursday amid an escalating trade war between the United States and China, as a 125 per cent import tariff by the Trump administration kicked in on Wednesday for most Chinese goods while “reciprocal” levies on other markets were paused for 90 days.
“The current tariffs have already reached a point where it’s impossible for anyone to do business,” Chuang, who heads one of the four biggest business chambers in the city, said of the levy’s paralysing effect on local manufacturers.
“Whether [the tariff percentage] continues to 125, 34 or 84 – it really doesn’t matter any more … it’s no longer a question of price, it’s a question of a trade war.
“The biggest challenge for Hong Kong businesses now is, if you continue production in mainland China, do you ship or not? Will the American buyers cancel?”
Chuang said many Hong Kong companies operated under “free on board”, or FOB, agreements, meaning sellers were responsible for loading goods onto vessels or other transport at the designated port of shipment.