Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023

Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023

This bill increases penalties for, and establishes additional enforcement mechanisms related to, fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws.

Specifically, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for a fraudulent violation to three times the domestic value of the merchandise. Further, the bill prohibits a person who commits a fraudulent violation from importing merchandise into the United States for a five-year period.

Additionally, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for a grossly negligent violation to the lesser of (1) 3 times the domestic value of the merchandise; or (2) 10 times the lawful duties, taxes, and fees. It also prohibits a person who commits a grossly negligent violation from importing merchandise into the United States for a two-year period.

Further, the bill applies these importation bans to an affiliated person (e.g., a family member, partner, or employee) of the person who committed the fraudulent or grossly negligent violation.

The bill also establishes a private right of action for customs fraud or grossly negligent violations. In particular, the bill allows manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, labor unions, or trade associations to bring a civil action against a violator or any person that aids or abets a violator.

The bill prohibits any person (or an affiliated person) who commits a fraudulent or grossly negligent violation from participating in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Importer of Record program, and further requires their importer of record numbers to be revoked.

Bill 118 hr 2667, also known as the Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023, aims to address unfair trade practices that harm American businesses and workers. The bill focuses on combating trade cheating by foreign countries through various measures.

One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a Trade Enforcement Task Force, which will be responsible for investigating and addressing instances of trade cheating. This task force will work closely with other government agencies to identify and respond to unfair trade practices, such as dumping and subsidies.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to strengthen enforcement of trade laws and regulations, including increasing penalties for companies found to be engaging in unfair trade practices. The bill also calls for increased transparency in trade agreements and negotiations to ensure that American businesses are not disadvantaged by foreign competitors. Overall, the Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023 aims to level the playing field for American businesses and workers by cracking down on unfair trade practices and holding foreign countries accountable for their actions. By implementing these measures, the bill seeks to protect American jobs and promote fair competition in the global marketplace.