US targets Chinese import circumvention as France strikes down social media ban

The United States government has released a report identifying more than 40 countries, including Japan, as being involved in the circumvention of Chinese import routes. Describing the activity as ‘large-scale transshipment fraud,’ the White House announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has begun using artificial intelligence to identify transshipment cargo used to disguise the country of origin. Importers found to be falsifying product origins may face retroactive tariffs spanning approximately one year.

In France, the Constitutional Council ruled a law passed in July that would have banned social media use for minors unconstitutional, citing it as an ‘unbalanced restriction on freedom of expression.’ Following the ruling, President Emmanuel Macron has instructed Prime Minister Lecornu to prepare an alternative bill, with the goal of implementing social media restrictions by the spring of 2027.