Exports in Disguise: Trade Re-Routing During the US-China Trade War

This working paper analyzes how firms adjust export patterns in response to trade policy shocks, focusing on the U.S.–China trade war. The authors document how trade is rerouted through alternative destinations to mitigate tariff costs, with implications for understanding trade elasticity, global value chains, and the effectiveness of unilateral trade measures. Media coverage highlights the policy relevance of export rerouting strategies and broader implications for trade policy evaluation.