US, Hong Kong Collaborating for More Trade Audits, Commerce Official Says

The U.S. is working with Hong Kong to increase audits of imports and exports, said Kevin Kurland, director of Commerce’s Office of Enforcement Analysis, at the Bureau of Industry and Security annual export controls conference July 10. Kurland said the cooperation has led to a “record number of detentions” in the past year as both sides have more strictly enforced and audited export and import controls. “We’re working with them,” Kurland said, adding that Commerce wants to make sure “our systems are complementary.”

Kurland said Commerce is working “diligently” with Hong Kong’s government to increase audits, specifically mentioning U.S. exports to Hong Kong. Kurland said the U.S. has increased audits of U.S. exporters, saying they need to have a “Hong Kong import license in your hand” before shipping. Hong Kong is also “doing a better job on the ground of doing audits,” Kurland said. “That’s exactly what we want them to do.” He said Hong Kong has a “liberalized trade authorization” and the U.S. expects the region “to have an effective export control system.”