Hong Kong to New York Freight

Yes, but only Hong Kong's own Section 301 duty, not the China lists. Since July 24, 2026, Hong Kong-origin goods pay a 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor duty, with annex exemptions. CBP states that goods legitimately made in Hong Kong are not subject to the Section 301 duties on China (7.5%–100%). Executive Order 13936 (July 14, 2020) changed the marking to "China", not the origin used for duties. Goods made in mainland China and shipped through Hong Kong keep China origin and pay the China lists.

Ocean freight from Hong Kong to New York takes 24–32 days. From Kwai Tsing terminals, vessels cross the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal before they reach Port Newark, New York/New Jersey. Major carriers — COSCO, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, and ONE among them — run direct services on this route. Air freight from Hong Kong International Airport to JFK or EWR takes just 4–7 days, with multiple direct and one-stop options.

Executive Order 13936, from July 2020, ended the special trade and economic treatment that had once set Hong Kong apart from mainland China. For trade, two changes stand out. First, goods made in Hong Kong must now be marked "China" under a CBP marking rule. Second, export controls now apply to Hong Kong just as they do to mainland China. The order did not move Hong Kong goods onto the China Section 301 lists: CBP still treats Hong Kong as a separate origin for duties. The US issued this order in response to China's National Security Law for Hong Kong.

Goods made in Taiwan, or any other country, and merely transshipping through Hong Kong keep their country of origin — Taiwan, in this case — for US customs purposes. They get assessed at Taiwan's MFN tariff rates, NOT at China Section 301 rates. This distinction matters a great deal. CBP may ask for documentation to verify origin on goods transshipping through Hong Kong. Suaid Global checks the country-of-origin declaration on the commercial invoice and bill of lading for HK transshipments before filing.

Hong Kong's container terminals cluster in Kwai Tsing (Kwai Chung/Tsing Yi), the city's primary international container facility. Major terminals here include COSCO-HIT Terminals, Modern Terminals, DP World (once known as Asia Container Terminals), and Hongkong International Terminals (HIT, run by HPH Trust). HKIA also runs large air cargo facilities next to the passenger terminal, operated by Cathay Pacific and other carriers.

Hong Kong's container port volumes have dropped a lot since 2020, due to EO 13936, COVID disruptions, and a broader shift of manufacturing and trade away from Hong Kong toward Singapore and mainland China ports. Still, Hong Kong remains an important air cargo hub (HKIA), thanks to its location and aviation infrastructure. For ocean freight, many shipments once routed through Hong Kong now clear directly through Shenzhen (Yantian) or Guangzhou (Nansha).