diff --git a/grain/_src/core/BUILD b/grain/_src/core/BUILD
index 087e65e8..b42f946c 100644
--- a/grain/_src/core/BUILD
+++ b/grain/_src/core/BUILD
@@ -72,3 +72,38 @@ py_library(
     srcs = ["transforms.py"],
     srcs_version = "PY3",
 )
+
+py_library(
+    name = "tree",
+    srcs = [
+        "tree.py",
+    ],
+    srcs_version = "PY3",
+)
+
+py_library(
+    name = "tree_test_lib",
+    testonly = 1,
+    srcs = ["tree_test.py"],
+    srcs_version = "PY3",
+    deps = [":tree"],
+)
+
+py_test(
+    name = "tree_test",
+    srcs = ["tree_test.py"],
+    srcs_version = "PY3",
+    deps = [
+        ":tree_test_lib",
+    ],
+)
+
+py_test(
+    name = "tree_jax_test",
+    srcs = ["tree_jax_test.py"],
+    srcs_version = "PY3",
+    deps = [
+        ":tree",
+        ":tree_test_lib",
+    ],
+)
diff --git a/grain/_src/core/tree.py b/grain/_src/core/tree.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d3eaaf33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/grain/_src/core/tree.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# Copyright 2023 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+"""Utilities for working with pytrees.
+
+See https://jax.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pytrees.html for more details about
+pytrees.
+
+This module merely re-directs imports of the actual implementations. To avoid a
+direct dependency on JAX, we check if it's already present and resort to the
+`tree` package otherwise.
+
+We should be able to remove this module once b/257971667 is resolved.
+"""
+
+try:
+  from jax import tree_util  # pytype: disable=import-error # pylint: disable=g-import-not-at-top
+
+  map_structure = tree_util.tree_map
+  map_structure_with_path = tree_util.tree_map_with_path
+
+  def assert_same_structure(a, b):
+    a_structure = tree_util.tree_structure(a)
+    b_structure = tree_util.tree_structure(b)
+    if a_structure != b_structure:
+      raise ValueError(
+          f"Structures are not the same: a = {a_structure}, b = {b_structure}"
+      )
+
+  def flatten(structure):
+    return tree_util.tree_flatten(structure)[0]
+
+  def unflatten_as(structure, flat_sequence):
+    return tree_util.tree_unflatten(
+        tree_util.tree_structure(structure), flat_sequence
+    )
+
+except ImportError:
+  import tree  # pylint: disable=g-import-not-at-top
+
+  map_structure = tree.map_structure
+  map_structure_with_path = tree.map_structure_with_path
+  assert_same_structure = tree.assert_same_structure
+  flatten = tree.flatten
+  unflatten_as = tree.unflatten_as
diff --git a/grain/_src/core/tree_jax_test.py b/grain/_src/core/tree_jax_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..784ae316
--- /dev/null
+++ b/grain/_src/core/tree_jax_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Copyright 2023 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+"""Testes for tree.py with JAX dependency present."""
+
+from absl.testing import absltest
+from grain._src.core import tree
+from grain._src.core import tree_test
+import jax
+
+
+class MyTree:
+
+  def __init__(self, a, b):
+    self.a = a
+    self.b = b
+
+  def __eq__(self, other):
+    return self.a == other.a and self.b == other.b
+
+
+class TreeJaxTest(tree_test.TreeTest):
+
+  def test_map_custom_tree(self):
+    jax.tree_util.register_pytree_node(
+        MyTree, lambda t: ((t.a, t.b), None), lambda _, args: MyTree(*args)
+    )
+    self.assertEqual(
+        tree.map_structure(lambda x: x + 1, MyTree(1, 2)), MyTree(2, 3)
+    )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/grain/_src/core/tree_test.py b/grain/_src/core/tree_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..85c38828
--- /dev/null
+++ b/grain/_src/core/tree_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# Copyright 2023 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+"""Testes for tree.py.
+
+Since the tree.py only re-directs the actual implementations this test does not
+try to cover the actual functionality, but rather the re-direction correctness.
+"""
+
+from typing import Protocol, runtime_checkable
+
+from absl.testing import absltest
+from grain._src.core import tree
+
+
+@runtime_checkable
+class TreeImpl(Protocol):
+
+  def map_structure(self, f, *structures):
+    ...
+
+  def map_structure_with_path(self, f, *structures):
+    ...
+
+  def assert_same_structure(self, a, b):
+    ...
+
+  def flatten(self, structure):
+    ...
+
+  def unflatten_as(self, structure, flat_sequence):
+    ...
+
+
+# Static check that the module implements the necessary functions.
+tree: TreeImpl = tree
+
+
+class TreeTest(absltest.TestCase):
+
+  def test_implements_tree_protocol(self):
+    # Run time check that the module implements the necessary functions.
+    # The module impl branching happens at run time, so the static check does
+    # not cover both branches.
+    self.assertIsInstance(tree, TreeImpl)
+
+  def test_map_structure(self):
+    self.assertEqual(
+        tree.map_structure(lambda x: x + 1, ({"B": 10, "A": 20}, [1, 2], 3)),
+        ({"B": 11, "A": 21}, [2, 3], 4),
+    )
+
+  def test_map_structure_with_path(self):
+    self.assertEqual(
+        tree.map_structure_with_path(
+            lambda path, x: x if path else None, {"B": "v1", "A": "v2"}
+        ),
+        {"B": "v1", "A": "v2"},
+    )
+
+  def test_assert_same_structure(self):
+    tree.assert_same_structure({"B": "v1", "A": "v2"}, {"B": 10, "A": 20})
+
+  def test_flatten(self):
+    self.assertEqual(tree.flatten({"A": "v2", "B": "v1"}), ["v2", "v1"])
+
+  def test_unflatten_as(self):
+    self.assertEqual(
+        tree.unflatten_as({"A": "v2", "B": "v1"}, [1, 2]), {"A": 1, "B": 2}
+    )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/BUILD b/grain/_src/python/BUILD
index f169584a..de2499b0 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/BUILD
+++ b/grain/_src/python/BUILD
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ py_library(
     deps = [
         ":record",
         ":shared_memory_array",
+        "//grain/_src/core:tree",
     ],
 )
 
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ py_library(
         ":shared_memory_array",
         "//grain/_src/core:sharding",
         "//grain/_src/core:transforms",
+        "//grain/_src/core:tree",
         "//grain/_src/core:usage_logging",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/data_loader.py b/grain/_src/python/data_loader.py
index 305a69d6..280ed720 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/data_loader.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/data_loader.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 from concurrent import futures
 from grain._src.core import sharding
 from grain._src.core import transforms
+from grain._src.core import tree
 from grain._src.core import usage_logging
 import multiprocessing as mp
 from grain._src.python import grain_pool
@@ -45,7 +46,6 @@
 from grain._src.python.shared_memory_array import SharedMemoryArray
 from grain._src.python.shared_memory_array import SharedMemoryArrayMetadata
 import numpy as np
-import tree
 
 
 _T = TypeVar("_T")
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/BUILD b/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/BUILD
index f1634731..a40aaaa4 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/BUILD
+++ b/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/BUILD
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ py_library(
     srcs = ["packing.py"],
     srcs_version = "PY3",
     deps = [
+        "//grain/_src/core:tree",
         "//grain/_src/python:record",
         "//third_party/py/jaxtyping",
     ],
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ py_test(
     srcs_version = "PY3",
     deps = [
         ":packing",
+        "//grain/_src/core:tree",
         "//grain/_src/python:record",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing.py b/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing.py
index e9190dc6..50045b9a 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing.py
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@
 import dataclasses
 from typing import Generic, Iterator, TypeVar, cast
 
+from grain._src.core import tree
 from grain._src.python import record
 import jax
 import jaxtyping as jt
 import numpy as np
-import tree
 
 _T = TypeVar("_T")
 
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing_test.py b/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing_test.py
index 7d3ad83b..8f886211 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing_test.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/experimental/example_packing/packing_test.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 """Tests for packing.py."""
 
 from absl.testing import absltest
+from grain._src.core import tree
 from grain._src.python import record
 from grain._src.python.experimental.example_packing import packing
 import numpy as np
 import tensorflow as tf
-import tree
 
 
 def create_input_dataset(input_dataset_elements):
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/BUILD b/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/BUILD
index e42b78b5..5a03ecb9 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/BUILD
+++ b/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/BUILD
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ py_library(
     name = "batch",
     srcs = ["batch.py"],
     srcs_version = "PY3",
-    deps = ["//grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset"],
+    deps = [
+        "//grain/_src/core:tree",
+        "//grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset",
+    ],
 )
 
 py_test(
@@ -108,6 +111,7 @@ py_library(
     srcs = ["packing.py"],
     srcs_version = "PY3",
     deps = [
+        "//grain/_src/core:tree",
         "//grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset",
         "//third_party/py/jaxtyping",
     ],
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/batch.py b/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/batch.py
index 74e82476..f40ccf5f 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/batch.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/batch.py
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 import math
 from typing import TypeVar
 
+from grain._src.core import tree
 from grain._src.python.lazy_dataset import lazy_dataset
 import numpy as np
-import tree
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
 
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/packing.py b/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/packing.py
index 42d8ccc5..cd193ee3 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/packing.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/lazy_dataset/transformations/packing.py
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@
 import copy
 from typing import Any
 
+from grain._src.core import tree
 from grain._src.python.lazy_dataset import lazy_dataset
 from jaxtyping import PyTree  # pylint: disable=g-importing-member
 import numpy as np
-import tree
 
 
 # SingleBinPackLazyDatasetIterator's state is defined by the a state of the
diff --git a/grain/_src/python/operations.py b/grain/_src/python/operations.py
index 8f56e8d1..2bb0b635 100644
--- a/grain/_src/python/operations.py
+++ b/grain/_src/python/operations.py
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
 from typing import Any, Callable, Generic, Iterator, Protocol, Sequence, TypeVar
 
 from absl import logging
+from grain._src.core import tree
 from grain._src.python import record
 from grain._src.python.shared_memory_array import SharedMemoryArray
 import numpy as np
-import tree
 
 _IN = TypeVar("_IN")
 _OUT = TypeVar("_OUT")