U.S. Plans AI “Detective Border” as Indonesia Comes Under Scrutiny
The Trump administration is developing an AI-powered system known as the “detective border” to strengthen enforcement against trading partners suspected of helping China bypass U.S. import tariffs through third countries.
A new report from the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy identified dozens of countries as having elevated exposure to what it described as China-linked transshipment networks. The assessment considered factors such as trade volumes with China, the depth of economic integration, and vulnerabilities that could make certain countries attractive for rerouting goods.
Supply-chain analytics firm Exiger estimated that around $75 billion worth of goods may have entered the United States through illegal transshipment between February 2025 and February 2026. The practice was estimated to have cost the U.S. between $19 billion and $34 billion in lost tariff revenue.
More than 40 countries were identified as facing elevated transshipment risk, including Mexico, Canada, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Brazil. However, the report also acknowledged that not every supply-chain shift is illegal, as many companies have legitimately moved production outside China under so-called China +1 strategies.
To improve enforcement, U.S. authorities plan to use artificial intelligence to analyze shipping data, route histories, production capacity, ownership links, packaging patterns, and even X-ray images at ports. The system is designed to detect discrepancies between the declared origin of goods and what is actually being shipped.
Newsmaker Analysis: The initiative could lead to tighter scrutiny of countries with strong trade links to China, including Indonesia. For exporters, the key issue will be proving that products are genuinely manufactured or substantially transformed in the declared country of origin. Stricter U.S. enforcement could result in additional inspections, shipment delays, or possible tariff action against goods suspected of being rerouted through third countries.(mrv)
Source : Newsmaker.id
