This April 2, 2019 photo shows the WTO logo on the main gate of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Saturday welcomed rulings made by the panels established under the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body that the US' imposition of global tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is inconsistent with WTO rules.

"The panels' rulings clearly show that the US has abused the concept of national security with the sole aim to politicize economic and trade issues," said a government spokesman.

As a staunch supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system, the SAR government strongly urged the US to fulfil its obligations as a WTO member and withdraw the erroneous measures as earliest as possible.

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Since March 23, 2018, the US, allegedly for national security reasons, has imposed tariffs of 25 percent and 10 percent on steel and aluminum imports respectively on a global scale. This measure applies to Hong Kong and only certain economies are excluded.

As a staunch supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system, we strongly urge the US to fulfil its obligations as a WTO Member and withdraw the erroneous measures earliest possible.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt

There is only a minimal amount of aluminum products exported from Hong Kong to the US, and there are no local steel products exported to the US, the government said in a statement. Such minimal exports cannot be threatening or damaging the US' national security, it added.

The Hong Kong government has been following up on the issue through various channels, opposing the unreasonable and unjust measures taken by the US, it said.

On the bilateral level, apart from filing formal representations to the US administration to express its opposition, the SAR government also urged Washington to exclude Hong Kong from the subject tariff measures.

On the multilateral level, in response to the requests made by China, India, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey, the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO established panels in 2019 to examine the disputes, with Hong Kong participating as a third party. The SAR government stated its strong opposition to the US' implementation of the tariff measures concerned.

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The Hong Kong government said it will continue to closely monitor and follow up on the development of the issue, said the spokesman.

"We will maintain our communication with the industry through various channels, review the situation, consider and take corresponding policies and actions to safeguard Hong Kong's trade interests and rights.”