US says dozens of countries helped China dodge Trump’s tariffs

According to a White House report, more than 40 nations have assisted China in evading U.S. tariffs by utilizing countries with lower import duties for transshipments. Nations such as Canada, India, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea have allegedly enabled China to avoid tens of billions of dollars in tariffs. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro stated that this practice has resulted in job losses and significant revenue loss for the U.S. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations, emphasizing that "trade wars have no winners" and opposing the use of state power to target China's companies.

The embassy also warned against unilateral actions that harm third-party interests. The BBC has reached out to the embassies of the listed countries for their perspectives. This issue arises in the context of an escalating trade conflict between the U.S. and China, occurring weeks before President Donald Trump is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington.

Estimates suggest that between $30 billion and $300 billion in goods have been moved via transshipments from higher-tariff countries to lower-tariff nations. The White House described this practice as "fraud cloaked in paperwork," alleging that China repackages goods to claim lower tariffs. The U.S. has employed AI tools to detect these transshipment activities.

The report is anticipated to add to the existing points of contention between the two nations as they prepare for their September meeting.