Trade Policy Review
Hong Kong, China
Minutes of the Meeting
Chairperson: H.E. Mr
Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 2
2 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
HONG KONG, CHINA (MS MAGGIE WONG). 4
3 STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT. 8
4 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS. 12
5 REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
HONG KONG, CHINA AND ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. 39
6 CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 46
Note: Advance written questions and
additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies provided by Hong Kong, China
are reproduced in document _WT/TPR/M/450/Add.1 and will be available online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.
1.1. The ninth Trade Policy Review
of Hong Kong, China was held on 6 and 8 December 2023.
The Chairperson, H.E. Mr Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel
(Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), welcomed the delegation of Hong Kong, China,
headed by Ms Maggie Wong, Director‑General of Trade and Industry of
Hong Kong, China; Ms Winky So, Permanent Representative of
Hong Kong, China to the WTO; the rest of the delegation; and the
discussant, Mr Pedro Bravo (Peru).
1.2. The Chairperson was pleased that, in
addition to physical presence, the meeting also benefited from the Interprefy
online connection, allowing for a wider participation of the Membership.
1.3. The Chairperson recalled the purpose
of TPRs and the main elements of procedures for the meeting. The Report by
Hong Kong, China is contained in document _WT/TPR/G/450, and that of the WTO Secretariat in
document _WT/TPR/S/450.
1.4.
Questions
by the following delegations were submitted in writing before the deadline:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Australia, United States,
Singapore, China, European Union, Philippines, Canada, Norway, Argentina,
Brazil, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Japan. The following delegations
submitted written questions after the deadline: Colombia, Türkiye, Malaysia,
Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Republic of Korea,
Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, and Ecuador.
1.5.
The
Chairperson first recalled some elements of Hong Kong, China's
previous Review in 2018. In the 2018 TPR meeting, Members commended
Hong Kong, China for maintaining one of the most open trade and
investment regimes. They acknowledged that Hong Kong, China's good
economic performance was underpinned by sound macroeconomic fundamentals,
including a healthy fiscal balance and a strong external financial position, as
well as a business‑friendly environment, transparent regulatory settings and
modern infrastructure.
1.6.
Members
appreciated Hong Kong, China's staunch support for the multilateral
trading system, and congratulated it for being the first Member to accept the
Agreement on Trade Facilitation. Members noticed that
Hong Kong, China concluded a number of regional trade agreements
during the review period, in addition to signing four subsidiary agreements to
the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with China.
1.7.
Overall,
Members commended Hong Kong, China for its transparent and relatively
simple trade‑related measures and encouraged it to keep it that way. Members
encouraged Hong Kong, China to, inter alia, expand its
tariff bindings, liberalize some services sectors, and strengthen IPR
enforcement.
1.8.
Since
the last Review, of Hong Kong, China continued to pursue a free and
open trade policy and has been a strong supporter of the multilateral trading
system. It also joined various new plurilateral initiatives and the Multi‑Party
Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement and deposited an instrument of
acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. During the review period,
several new free trade agreements entered into force, and some existing
agreements were amended or supplemented with subsidiary agreements.
Hong Kong, China does not apply tariffs on imports, nor does it
maintain any tariff rate quotas. Hong Kong, China's WTO schedule has
about half of 7,805 tariff lines bound. Hong Kong, China
continued to strengthen its trade‑related regulatory framework, for example, by
SPS‑related legislative changes, introduction of a pro‑innovation government
procurement policy, amendments to various intellectual property laws and
regulations, creation of a framework for fintech, and adoption of policies to
simplify the licensing framework in telecommunications.
1.9.
In
their advance written questions, Members notably sought information regarding
measures related to: the COVID‑19 pandemic; regional trade agreements;
investment; environmental policies; micro, small and medium‑sized enterprises;
customs procedures and trade facilitation; tariffs and other charges affecting
imports; standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary
measures; government procurement; intellectual property; financial services;
and telecommunications.
1.10.
Hong Kong, China
received 403 advance written questions from 22 Members for the
current Review, 299 of which were sent within the deadline set. Prior to the
meeting, Hong Kong, China provided written replies to all questions
submitted within the deadline. The Chairperson was looking forward to hearing
Hong Kong, China's replies to other questions during the two‑day
meeting.
1.11.
The
meeting provided a good opportunity for Members to discuss in detail these and
other issues of interest to them and of importance to the multilateral trading
system. The Chairperson looked forward to a fruitful exchange.
1.12.
The
Chairperson closed his introductory remarks by wishing
Hong Kong, China a very successful ninth Trade Policy Review.