Hydrogen is a key component of European decarbonization strategies. Because projected domestic production is unlikely to meet future demand, several European countries, including the Netherlands, are planning to rely on international hydrogen supply chains. Public evaluations of hydrogen import policies will therefore be shaped not only by technological characteristics but also by how international partnerships are perceived — particularly given that certain trade configurations may be seen as reproducing extractivist patterns. Building on this, here we examined how hydrogen type (blue vs. green) and the development level of the exporting country (comparable to vs. less developed than the Netherlands) shape perceived distributive fairness, trust in the Dutch government, and public acceptability of hydrogen import policies. We conducted a preregistered experiment in which Dutch participants evaluated a set of realistic hydrogen import policy scenarios varying in hydrogen type and trading partner characteristics. Results showed that policies involving green hydrogen and development comparable trading partners were rated as more acceptable, fairer, and elicited higher trust in the Dutch government. Furthermore, the positive effect of green hydrogen on perceived fairness was stronger when paired with a development-comparable trading partner than with a less developed one. Similarly, the positive effects of both manipulations on trust in the Dutch government were stronger for integrity-based than competence-based trust. These findings advance understanding of the social conditions under which international hydrogen trade may gain or lose public legitimacy.