Goods produced in Hong Kong and exported to the USA should now state their country of origin as China rather than Hong Kong, following the President’s Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization issued on 14 July 2020.

The order suspends the application of section 201(a) of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to the marking statute, section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930, with respect to imported goods produced in Hong Kong and means such goods may no longer be marked to indicate ‘‘Hong Kong’’ as their origin, but must be marked to indicate ‘‘China”.

The change came into force on July 29 2020 but a transition period will be granted for importers to implement marking consistent with this position for imported goods produced in Hong Kong. Such goods, when entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption into the United States after 25 September 2020, must be marked to indicate that their origin is ‘‘China’’ for purposes of 19 U.S.C. 1304.

UKFT is the leading authority for garment labelling requirements around the world

UKFT offers technical guidance and support for UK fashion designers, brands and retailers on areas including care labelling, fibre content, country of origin and flammability, as part of UKFT membership. We can advise companies on any issue they might have around labelling in any market that they might be selling to around the world.

UKFT is also the UK representative for GINETEX, the organisation that owns the trademarks for the care labelling symbols. The symbols are protected by trade marks in over 80 countries throughout the world, including the UK.

For fashion designers, brands and labelling companies, UKFT can provide a care labelling licence that allows the use of the symbols throughout the world as a bolt-on to UKFT membership (UKFT annual membership plus costs £515 + VAT if your turnover is below £250k). Rates are tied to your turnover.

Retailers selling their own label outside the UK can join UKFT through the Retail Partner Membership, which provides the right to use the care symbols worldwide without incurring any further costs.

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Interested in membership? Contact info@ukft.org for details.