A bustling industry focused on “origin washing” is taking shape on China’s social media, aimed at assisting businesses in dodging U.S. tariffs by falsely indicating that their products come from other Asian nations like Vietnam and Thailand.
When the U.S. starts imposing tariffs on Chinese goods, some ads claim, “It was shipped via Malaysia and, voilà, it’s now Southeast Asian!” Or similarly, “Are there restrictions on wooden floors or tableware? No problem!”
This “freight transport” model—essentially a form of origin washing—is heavily advertised on platforms like Douyin, which is China’s equivalent of TikTok. The offerings include managing “customs documents, clearances, and certificates of origin” to make products look like they originated elsewhere. Some companies even shift goods between containers to conceal their actual origins.
Another strategy involves mixing high-value items with large quantities of low-value ones, leading to deceptive claims about the overall shipment value, allowing them to bypass customs checks that are more thorough on the pricier items.
Certain bold bathroom supply firms even promise a “one-stop” solution that can virtually guarantee the masking of product origins.
However, as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA), many users on Chinese social media express doubts about these all-in-one services, especially with advancements in AI making it easier for customs to scrutinize shipments and identify fraudulent documentation. The nation is increasingly aware of such practices and is amplifying efforts to crack down on fraud, especially from Vietnam and South Korea.
With the U.S. altering its trade policies, there’s been a notable spike in cases where products are rerouted through certain countries to avoid tariffs. Reports indicate numerous instances of Chinese products being falsely labeled as Korean.
For instance, South Korean Customs estimated that counterfeited origins amounted to $21 million in exports during the first quarter of 2025, most of which came from China and faced detention by the U.S.
A professor at China University remarked that although some companies initially contemplated relocating factories to Southeast Asia to evade tariffs, this approach proved impractical. Consequently, they have turned to origin washing as a more favorable option. The professor noted this could create significant challenges for U.S. and European officials, given the volume of goods leaving China under questionable documentation.
Sarah Ou, a sales representative from a Chinese export firm, claimed there was nothing wrong with using origin washing to escape high U.S. tariffs, stating, “The tariffs are just too steep. If we sell to nearby countries, they can then sell to the U.S., which lowers the burden.”
Ou felt unconcerned about potential legal repercussions due to a policy that places liability on Chinese buyers once products leave China.
She explained that their responsibility ends when goods reach ports like Guangzhou or Shenzhen, emphasizing, “We just ship to those ports, and then it’s out of our hands.”
Another business owner echoed this sentiment, noting that the cost for reliable origin cleansing is minimal—around 70 cents per kilogram—and that the practice is so prevalent that trade associations are beginning to engage with experts on customs evasion.
Interviews with Malaysian port workers and factories revealed a willingness to shift cargo between containers and generate false origin certificates, indicating a network of origin washing operations utilizing Malaysia’s Port Klang.
Malaysian authorities have described this practice derogatively, deeming origin washing a “serious crime” as they are committed to upholding the integrity of international trade.
On the U.S. side of things, an American businessman expressed apprehension about dealing with certain Chinese suppliers.
In a notable case, a major Chinese discount retailer reportedly chose against attempting to mask its origins, recognizing the complexities involved in concealing the many small shipments it sends without drawing attention.
Recent reports suggest that this retailer is now exploring partnerships with U.S.-based “local sellers” who can fulfill Temu’s product orders domestically, shifting from its previous strategy of sidestepping tariffs by directly shipping from China, which had significantly raised the prices for consumers.
