Bill > S3808

This bill, titled the "Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2026," aims to strengthen enforcement against customs fraud by significantly increasing civil penalties and expanding enforcement mechanisms. It amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose higher penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws, tripling the value of domestic goods for fraudulent violations and increasing penalties for grossly negligent ones to up to ten times the domestic value. Additionally, individuals and affiliated persons found to have committed fraudulent violations will be banned from importing goods for five years, while those with grossly negligent violations will face a two-year import ban. The bill also introduces a new provision allowing "interested parties," such as domestic manufacturers, unions, or trade associations, to file civil lawsuits against those who cause injury through fraudulent or grossly negligent customs violations, enabling them to recover triple their compensatory damages, plus legal fees, and seek injunctions. Furthermore, the bill enhances the "importer of record" program by making individuals and their affiliated persons, who have committed fraudulent or grossly negligent customs violations, ineligible to participate, and allows for the revocation of existing importer of record numbers. The term "affiliated person" is broadly defined to include those with formal or ongoing relationships, even if not formally structured, to prevent the use of shell companies to evade customs laws.