economyFriday, August 14, 2026event Aug 143 sources

US Accuses 9 Latin American Countries of Helping China Avoid Trump's Tariffs

The United States released a report accusing 9 Latin American countries of facilitating the movement of Chinese goods through third nations to evade US tariffs. The report names Mexico, Panama, and Colombia as countries that have taken actions against Chinese commercial interests. The accusation highlights a significant economic strategy by China to circumvent higher levies, with the US claiming tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue lost due to transshipments.

The White House report, released on August 13, 2026, specifically names Mexico, Panama, and Colombia as countries that have moved against Chinese commercial interests over the past year. It also includes Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic among more than 40 countries deemed to carry elevated risk of illegal transshipment. The report claims that China has been moving goods through nations with lower tariffs to avoid higher levies imposed by the US, resulting in significant financial losses for the American economy. The report, corroborated by multiple news outlets, states that the practice of transshipment has led to the loss of tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue. While the US report focuses on the economic impact and the countries involved, the specific mechanisms and evidence of transshipment are not detailed in the excerpts provided. The report does not specify the exact methods used by China to route goods through third countries, leaving the specifics of the alleged transshipment practices to be further investigated.

Timelines

US-China Strategic Competition

Sources

IndependentAl JazeeraAug 14, 12:37 PM
US accuses dozens of countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs

White House report claims tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue lost to transshipments.

PublicBBC WorldAug 14, 07:09 AM
US says dozens of countries helped China dodge Trump's tariffs

A new US report said China had moved goods through nations with lower tariffs to dodge higher levies.

IndependentSouth China Morning PostAug 14, 03:20 AM
US accuses 9 Latin American countries of helping China avoid Trump’s tariffs

Three Latin American governments that moved against Chinese commercial interests over the past year were named in a White House report on Thursday, which accused Chinese exporters of routing goods through third countries to evade US tariffs. Mexico, Panama and Colombia now join Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic among more than 40 countries the report says carry elevated risk of illegal transshipment, the practice of moving goods through an intermediate country...