Overview

• The new Trade Fraud Task Force aligns DOJ Civil and Criminal Divisions with DHS partners including CBP, HSI and ICE.
• Officials say priorities include stopping duty evasion schemes, transshipment tactics, misclassification or undervaluation, and imports that infringe intellectual property.
• Enforcement will draw on the Tariff Act of 1930 for duties and penalties, the False Claims Act for civil cases, and Title 18 for criminal prosecutions, with penalties and seizures as needed.
• DOJ is inviting referrals from affected industries and encouraging tips through the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Program or FCA qui tam filings, while urging importers to audit and self-disclose.
• The initiative is framed within President Trump’s America First trade policy and Executive Order 14243, with leaders pledging to protect U.S. manufacturers and recover lost revenue.