US Sours on China as 40+ Nations Helped Dodge Trump Tariffs

WASHINGTON - The White House released a report Thursday that more than 40 countries aided China in evading Trump‑era tariffs by routing goods through nations with lower customs duties.

Among the countries cited are Canada, India, Mexico, Japan and South Korea. The US claims the practice, known as transshipment, moved goods valued between $30 bn and $300 bn past higher tariffs. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro warned that it “costs American jobs and billions in revenue.”

China’s response. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said trade wars have no winners and opposed the US measures, adding that unilateral actions or agreements concerning transshipped goods must not harm the interests of third parties.

AI to the rescue. The US has deployed artificial intelligence tools to detect transshipment attempts, describing the system as “fraud cloaked in paperwork.”

Why it matters now. The revelations come weeks before President Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi in September. Analysts say the report could bolster the US bargaining power, forcing China to confront not just direct exports but also third‑country routing.

More in the frame. The US has also imposed tariffs on drone exports and restricted humanoid robots shipped to the US. Trump’s saga of new tariffs, striking down by the Supreme Court, continues to shape the trade battlefield.

The White House’s findings could redefine how the world sees China’s supply chain and impact economies deeply integrated with Chinese production.