 |
| Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images |
President Trump announced on Friday that the United States would change longstanding policies toward Hong Kong as Hong Kong lost their autonomy status, as well as ending the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization.
"I am directing my administration to begin the process of eliminating policy exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special treatment," Trump said during a Rose Garden speaking event at the White House.
"My announcement today will affect the full range of agreements that we have with Hong Kong, from our extradition treaty, to our export controls and technologies," Trump added. "We will take action to revoke Hong Kong's preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory from the rest of China."
It’s unclear the details on which steps the president would take on changing policies. However, Hong Kong has had a special trading status, being exempt from tariffs imposed on Chinese imports.
President Trump also announced he was “terminating” the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization over their response on the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump said he would “redirect” funds to other international organizations.
"Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving, urgent, global public health needs" Trump said.
"We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly, but they have refused to act," Trump continued.
The act comes 11 days after Trump
sent a letter threatening to halt complete funding. Trump
suspended U.S. funding to the World Health Organization last month as his administration reviewed the organization’s response to the pandemic.
