A White House report examining changes in international trade patterns has identified Sri Lanka as one of over 40 countries that have gained importance in global supply chains following US tariffs on Chinese goods.

Sri Lanka has been included in a White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy report titled "The Great Transshipment Scam," which examines how global supply chains have restructured since 2018 in response to US tariffs on Chinese imports. The report identifies Sri Lanka as part of a broader network of countries that have become increasingly significant as companies diversify their manufacturing and distribution operations across multiple jurisdictions.

The White House analysis classifies Sri Lanka as a "Tier 3" economy, a designation for smaller nations offering strategic advantages including geographic location, logistics infrastructure, warehousing facilities, free trade zones, competitive labour costs and market access. The report also groups Sri Lanka with Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines under a category termed "Southeast Asian Microhubs," noting that such countries can support activities including light manufacturing, export processing, assembly operations and regional distribution within modern supply chains.

According to the report, changes in trade patterns do not automatically indicate illegal activity, with many shifts reflecting legitimate foreign investment, manufacturing expansion and industrial relocation following tariff implementations. The analysis notes that China's response to US tariffs has included deeper integration with regional and global manufacturing networks, distributing production, assembly and logistics operations across Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other regions. The report estimates that trade exposure linked to these evolving supply chains ranges from US$40 billion to US$303 billion annually.

Notably, the White House report names Sri Lanka among countries significant in global trade networks but presents no specific allegations, investigations, enforcement actions or financial estimates directly relating to Sri Lanka. The Trump Administration has proposed expanding customs enforcement through artificial intelligence systems and strengthening compliance requirements to monitor international trade patterns.