The President's Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization

The order declares a national emergency based on China's imposition of national security legislation on Hong Kong, which the President determines constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economy. It suspends the application of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act's differential-treatment provisions across a range of statutes covering immigration, arms exports, export controls, and customs. It directs agency heads to begin regulatory amendments within 15 days, covering actions such as revoking Hong Kong export license exceptions, ending police training programs, terminating or suspending bilateral agreements on fugitive surrender and prisoner transfer, ending the Fulbright exchange program with China and Hong Kong, and terminating tax exemption agreements for international shipping.

It also immediately blocks all U.S.-based property and interests of foreign persons determined by the Secretary of State or Secretary of the Treasury to have been involved in coercing individuals under, or developing or implementing, China's Hong Kong national security law — and bans those persons and their immediate family members from entering the United States. A reversibility clause states the President will reconsider these determinations if China's actions ensure Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous again.

U.S. businesses and individuals trading with or operating in Hong Kong, Hong Kong residents seeking U.S. visas or refugee status, foreign nationals subject to asset blocking and travel bans, U.S. exporters relying on Hong Kong license exceptions, and participants in Fulbright exchange programs traveling to or from Hong Kong or China.

Hong Kong loses the trade, immigration, and export-control advantages it has held under U.S. law since 1992. U.S. companies that used Hong Kong as a gateway distinct from mainland China now face the same restrictions that apply to China, and foreign officials linked to the national security crackdown face immediate asset freezes and entry bans.

The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, holds primary IEEPA implementation authority and may adopt rules, regulations, and subdelegations within Treasury. Agency heads must begin all appropriate actions within 15 days. State and Treasury jointly designate sanctioned individuals; no prior notice to listed persons is required. The Secretary of the Treasury must submit recurring and final reports to Congress under NEA and IEEPA reporting requirements. The order includes a reversibility clause allowing the President to rescind measures if China restores Hong Kong's autonomy consistent with the 1984 Joint Declaration.