Washington alleges Chinese goods are being routed through more than 40 countries to circumvent US tariffs, while Beijing rejects the accusation.
WASHINGTON, US — WEB DESK: The White House has accused China of using large-scale trade practices to circumvent US tariffs, alleging that Chinese goods are being routed through third countries before entering the American market.
According to the report cited in the supplied material, Chinese products are allegedly being shipped to the United States through more than 40 countries, including India and Israel, in an effort to avoid higher US tariffs.
The report claims the practice could potentially save as much as $300 billion in tariffs.
Trump shares report on social media
US President Donald Trump shared the report on social media, bringing renewed attention to Washington’s concerns over the movement of Chinese goods through third countries.
According to the report, Pakistan was not included among the countries allegedly being used to route Chinese products into the United States to evade tariffs.
The allegation comes amid continued trade tensions between Washington and Beijing and broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape US trade policy.
China rejects US accusations
Chinese officials and trade experts have rejected the US allegations of widespread trade deception.
Chinese officials argue that companies expanding or diversifying their production across different countries is a normal development within global supply chains and should not automatically be characterised as an effort to evade tariffs.
Beijing has instead stressed that the key issue should be whether companies have misrepresented the origin of their products or violated applicable rules governing country of origin.
Beijing warns against targeting third countries
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington also criticised unilateral US trade measures.
The spokesperson argued that third-party interests should not be targeted through unilateral measures relating to goods being shipped internationally.
China has repeatedly opposed the use of tariffs and trade restrictions as tools of economic pressure, warning that trade wars do not produce genuine winners.
The Chinese side also rejected the use of national security arguments to restrict Chinese products and said Beijing would take measures to protect its interests if necessary.
Trade tensions remain high
The dispute highlights a continuing challenge for the global trading system as companies adjust their manufacturing and distribution networks in response to tariffs and geopolitical tensions.
While Washington views some changes in supply chains as potential tariff circumvention, Beijing maintains that diversification of production is a normal feature of international commerce.
The disagreement could further complicate efforts to stabilise US-China trade relations as both countries continue to negotiate over tariffs, market access and broader economic issues.
Whether goods routed through third countries constitute tariff evasion ultimately depends on their actual country of origin, manufacturing processes and compliance with US customs rules.
