US accuses dozens of countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs
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- The White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy accused more than 40 countries of participating in a 'Great Transshipment Scam' — relabelling, repackaging and re-invoicing Chinese goods — costing the US tens of billions in annual revenue.
- China's biggest enablers named in the report are the EU, Mexico, Canada, India, Japan and South Korea, with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia also playing 'an important role,' the trade office said.
- US manufacturing sectors hit hardest include electrical equipment, integrated circuits, aluminium products and motor components, according to the report.
- Peter Navarro's trade office warned facilitating countries are 'put on notice' and said border authorities are now using AI to integrate shipment data as part of strengthened enforcement.
- The Trump administration separately announced 10–12.5% levies on imports from dozens of countries accused of turning a blind eye to forced labour.
- Twenty-five Democratic-led states including New York, California and Colorado have challenged the tariffs in court, calling them a pretext to reimpose 'Liberation Day' duties the Supreme Court struck down in February.
- Trade expert Amitendu Palit told Al Jazeera the report is the administration's latest effort to coerce greater US market access after losing credibility and refund revenue when the original Liberation Day tariffs were struck down.
Why it matters: The administration is pivoting to a new enforcement frame after the Supreme Court struck down its 'Liberation Day' tariffs in February and 25 states are now litigating the parallel forced-labour levies. Tagging key allies like the EU, Japan, South Korea and India as Chinese 'enablers' risks fresh trade friction while courts weigh the underlying duties' legality.
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