HK's Lee slams US as ‘ruthless'

"The US no longer adheres to free trade, arbitrarily undermining the internationally established rules of world trade, and its ruthless behaviour damages global and multilateral trade," Mr Lee, who was sanctioned by the US in 2020 for his role in the rights crackdown in Hong Kong, told reporters.

- JAMES POMFRET CLARE JIM

Hong Kong, as an international trade hub, will be affected by US tariffs in the short term but Mr Lee said it would continue to remain a free port, with the city not planning to impose any retaliatory tariffs on the US right now.

The latest additional US tariffs of 34% that were imposed on China also apply to Hong Kong, which is no longer considered a separate trading entity by Washington amid a years-long crackdown under a sweeping national security law.

This coupled with an earlier 20% tariff, means combined US tariffs on Hong Kong goods are now 54%, Mr Lee said.