📦 The Donald Trump administration is preparing new rules to prevent China from bypassing US tariffs. However, these measures could also harm the US itself — disrupting supply chains, complicating trade, and increasing business costs.
Source: Bukvy
🌀 Chinese companies ship goods to the US through countries with lower tariffs, such as Vietnam and Indonesia. In response, Trump proposes a dual tariff system: lower rates for “clean” goods and higher for imports from “non-market” countries.
🔍 The problem lies in the details. Most electronics contain Chinese components, and determining the origin of goods is difficult. The rules have not yet been approved, although new tariffs are set to start on August 1.
🚛 According to Congress data, since 2018 Chinese goods have been widely “disguised” as products from third countries. In May, direct imports from China fell to $20.5 billion — less than half the level three years ago, yet goods still enter the US.
💸 Economists believe that a third of Chinese exports to Southeast Asia eventually end up in the US. The tariff difference encourages companies to circumvent restrictions.
🛂 In response, Washington promises to strengthen control. The Department of Justice included customs fraud among its top 10 priorities, but lawyers doubt its effectiveness — documents are easy to falsify, and the legal framework is unclear.
📉 The US has already announced a 40% tariff on goods that may be transshipped from China. At the same time, the list of “non-market” countries includes not only China and russia but also Vietnam, Belarus, and Armenia.
⚙️ The White House claims this will strengthen domestic production. Yet experts warn that without clear criteria, by August businesses will fall into chaos, and instead of combating fraud, the US will disrupt global trade.
💬 “This is a frontal attack on global supply chains,” says S&P Global analyst Chris Rogers. “And it only creates new incentives to circumvent the rules.”
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