This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
On August 14, 2019, US President Donald Trump appeared to link a trade deal with China to the resolution of the Hong Kong protests.
Trump made the comments on Twitter, stating, "Millions of jobs are being lost in China to other non-Tariffed countries. Thousands of companies are leaving. Of course China wants to make a deal. Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!"
Washington and Beijing have imposed tariffs on $360 billion in two-way trade, but Trump has delayed tariffs on electronic goods from China, giving investors hope for a detente in the trade conflict.
Trump's comments come as the US government has expressed concern over Chinese security force movements on the border with Hong Kong and urged Beijing to honour the territory's autonomy.
Under the terms of Hong Kong's return to China from British colonial rule, the city is meant to have far greater liberties than those allowed on the mainland.
