President Trump is targeting “transshipment”—where Chinese goods reroute through third-party countries to dodge tariffs. His administration’s aggressive tariffs, ranging from 10–50% by origin country, aim to close these loopholes and restore the integrity of “rules of origin” enforcement .
According to Bloomberg Economics, if the U.S. successfully cracks down on these detours, up to 70% of China’s exports to the U.S. could be affected—equating to over 2.1% of its GDP at risk Bloomberg.com. China has increasingly used countries like Vietnam, Mexico, and Malaysia as re-export platforms since 2018 .
U.S. customs officials will face a growing burden. With supply chains sprawling across Southeast Asia and beyond—designed to mask origin—scrutiny will need to greatly increase. Malaysia and South Korea have begun cooperating, but China's deep global integration may insulate many pathways Reuters.
For Chinese exporters: Higher costs, supply chain restructuring, and a need to find new markets—or bring production back to China.
For U.S. consumers & businesses: Potentially higher prices due to disrupted supply chains and fewer low-cost imports.
For global markets: A new phase of trade decoupling, with countries navigating increased complexity and risk of retaliatory measures.
Trump’s strategy to close trade loopholes via transshipment enforcement dramatically elevates the stakes in U.S.–China trade. If enacted fully, it could significantly curb China's export pipeline, reshaping global supply chains and marking a decisive pivot in protectionist policy.