Stricter arms export policy for Hong Kong
On 9 October 2020, in response to the adoption of the new national security law in Hong Kong, the Dutch government decided to tighten the Netherlands’ arms export policy.
Effective immediately, all licence applications for the export of military goods to Hong Kong will be assessed in accordance with the same standards as applications for the rest of the People’s Republic of China. In addition, the EU arms embargo currently in effect for China will now be applied by the Netherlands to exports to Hong Kong.
Partner countries, such as the US, Canada, the UK, the Czech Republic and Germany, have also tightened their national arms export policies for Hong Kong.
For more information, please read the letter which was sent to the House of Representatives (Dutch only) by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag and Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok on 9 October 2020.
Questions
If you have any questions about Dutch arms export policy, please email the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at dvb-wapenexport@minbuza.nl.