Hongkong Post suspends goods mail services to US

HONG KONG: Hongkong Post said on Wednesday it had suspended goods mail services by sea to the United States and will suspend its air mail postal service for items containing goods from April 27 due to "bullying" U.S. tariffs.

When sending items to the U.S., Hong Kong people "should be prepared to pay exorbitant and unreasonable fees due to the U.S.'s unreasonable and bullying acts", Hongkong Post said in a statement.

Other postal items containing documents only without goods will not be affected.

"The U.S. is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively. Hongkong post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the U.S.," it said.

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, has been subjected to the same tariffs as China, according to a U.S. government notice.

The former British colony has long been known as a free and open trading hub, but China's imposition on Hong Kong of a sweeping national security law in 2020 drew criticism from the U.S. and led it to end the financial hub's special status under U.S. law.

Hongkong Post said its suspension was due to the U.S. government's elimination of the "de minimus" exemption and the increase in tariffs for postal items from Hong Kong containing goods to the U.S. from May 2.

DHL, a courier company used frequently by businesses in Hong Kong, said it would "continue to process inbound shipments to the United States in accordance with the applicable customs rules and regulations".