Thailand named in US China tariff-evasion watchlist

Thailand has been named among more than 40 countries and trading partners that the United States says face a high risk of being used to help China evade US tariffs.

The Trump administration said it will work with US Customs and Border Protection to develop an artificial intelligence system to identify potentially illegal transshipment routes.

AFP reported from Washington, that Thailand, India, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam were among those identified. The European Union, Taiwan, Mexico and Canada were also named.

White House targets transshipment routes

The White House report, titled The Great Transshipment Scam, addresses a long-standing concern over goods being sent through third countries facing lower US tariff rates.

Such routing can allow products to avoid higher duties imposed by President Donald Trump, according to the report. It said more than 40 countries were involved in a high-risk transshipment environment.

"For years, this transshipment scam has allowed Communist China to launder its exports through more than 40 countries," White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told reporters.

The report said the risks were embedded in legitimate trade flows in some countries. Others had closer links to China-connected supply chains, while a third group had advantages - including favourable access to the US market - which made them attractive destinations for rerouted goods.

AI system planned for US border checks

Navarro said the White House was working closely with US Customs and Border Protection on an AI-based "border detection" system.

It would assess whether shipments may involve transshipped goods by using shipping data, route histories and other tools, the report said.

Being listed does not itself mean Thai exports face new restrictions, but US-bound shipments may face greater scrutiny over their origin, supply-chain documentation and routing.

Supply chains shifted after 2018 tariff war

Experts have long noted that supply chains began moving away from China after Washington and Beijing entered a tariff war around 2018, during Trump's first presidency.

Economists have said countries including Vietnam benefited as businesses diversified their supply chains.

Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has imposed broad import tariffs on US trading partners, adding to existing duties on Chinese imports.

Join the discussion?

15 August 2026