Hong Kong should not give up on its traditional trade partners, such as the United States, a top government adviser has said, stressing that it is important for the city to distinguish between the US administration and business sector despite an escalating tariff war.
“We have to tell the Trump administration and US business sector apart, the latter is also a victim,” Ip told a radio show, as she reckoned with Hong Kong’s need to diversify its markets across other parts of the world.
“As Xia [Baolong] said, Hong Kong is the region with the largest US trade surplus … and if China stops buying oil, gas and agricultural products, it will cause a significant impact,” she said, referring to Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs.
“The US will not benefit from continuing with the trade war, I think it will be defeated ultimately.”
