‘It’s Life or Death:’ Hong Kong Protests Risk Its Special Trade Relationship With the U.S.

Amid political disarray and unending protests, Hong Kong now faces one more potential risk: losing its special trading status with the United States over fears that the Chinese government will forcefully crack down on the demonstrators who have occupied parts of the city for 11 weeks.

Last week, after a spokesman for China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said protester violence would be combated with an “iron fist,” while Sen. Ben Cardin (D–Md.) told Reuters that Hong Kong’s trade...