White House Report Names Chile Among Countries Used by China to Evade US Tariffs

A 25-page White House report titled 'The Great Transshipment Scam,' released August 13, listed Chile among more than 40 countries flagged for transshipment risk, grouping it with Argentina, Colombia, Panama, and Peru as a 'small opportunistic Chinese target' offering cheap labor, free trade zones, port access, and limited customs oversight, and separately naming it as part of a Pacific/Atlantic route-diversion corridor for Chinese goods. The report followed the US Trade Representative's early-August decision to apply an additional 12.5% tariff on Chilean imports over an alleged failure to block goods made with forced labor — a finding the Kast government has disputed, arguing Chile has robust labor institutions, while Chilean exporters and right-wing politicians said the real driver was US pressure over Chile's trade ties with China.