If these items were not sold by US Companies, China would make them and sell them to the rest of the world , including The Hong Kong Police , better and cheaper!!
The real question is how could we as Americans, help our bothers and sisters in Hong Kong to influence The Chinese in establishing a better “One Country two system”!!
Colonialism is wrong and foreign interference is China’s dilemma is helpful only if wisdom and compassion prevail! This far, the wisdom of Xi Jinping, has been extraordinary! The US in the same situation would have had the Police attest all of the rioters the first day!
But influencing a transition of development and democracy in Hong Kong , a Chinese city in China, must not devolve into meaningless gestures of sanctions by prohibiting the sale of tear gas.
This year we have caused the instability of Syrian Kurds by abandoning them to Turkeys hostility; we have caused the refugee cris in Venezuela by crippling sanctions; we have contributed to the deaths of thousands of Yemenis by supplying logistics and arms to The Saudis!!
Let’s concentrate our energy on creating a democracy here where a recession may hit us within the next 22 months! Let’s stop Trump and his White Supremacy system of violence and oppression of our own citizens and residents!! Tear gas sanctions to the Chinese should be the least of our concerns!! Hong Kong is not Charlotte North Carolina!!