Hong Kong
What Trump’s Announcement on Hong Kong Could Mean
What options are available to the Trump administration to respond to moves by Beijing to erode Hong Kong’s autonomy?
Peter E. Harrell is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, where his research focuses on the intersection of international economics and U.S. national security. He also maintains a law practice advising companies on sanctions compliance and other areas of national security law. Harrell previously served at the State Department from 2009-2014.
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What options are available to the Trump administration to respond to moves by Beijing to erode Hong Kong’s autonomy?
Yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
Over the weekend, President Trump cited a 1977 statute, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), as providing the legal authority he would need to carry through on his “order” that American companies “immediately start looking for an alternative to China.” IEEPA, which serves as the legal basis for many of America’s economic sanctions programs, almost certainly gives Trump the legal power he claims.