Import Security and Fairness Act
Sponsored By: Representative Suozzi
Introduced
Summary
Tightening de minimis duty exemptions for imports from certain countries. This bill would narrow section 321 of the Tariff Act to limit which low-value shipments qualify for duty-free entry and add stricter paperwork, verification, and penalties.
Show full summary
- Would bar de minimis (duty-free) treatment for articles when both the country of origin and the shipping origin are a nonmarket economy and on the Trade Act priority watch list. This creates a two-part exception to the usual low-value rule.
- Would keep the $800 de minimis threshold but add documentation and verification requirements and civil penalties for wrongful claims, and it expands authority to deny exemptions for parties suspended or debarred from doing business with the Federal Government.
- Would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to follow a new examination process with notices to interested parties, voluntary abandonment options, and automatic denial, export, or deemed abandonment if no response is provided within 30 days. The changes would apply to entries made on or after 180 days after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
New paperwork and penalties for small importers
If enacted, the Treasury Secretary would have 180 days to set new rules for low‑value imports. Importers, shippers, and online sellers would need to give U.S. Customs item details: description, tariff code, origin, ship‑from country, shipper, importer, and U.S. value. Data must be true to the best of their knowledge, or face civil fines. Fines would be $5,000 for the first violation and $10,000 for later ones. If Customs detains a package, it would notify interested parties, who would have 30 days to respond or abandon the goods; otherwise, Customs could export the goods at the importer’s cost or treat them as abandoned.
Limits on $800 duty-free imports
If enacted, the $800 duty‑free threshold would remain for most low‑value shipments. But goods would lose duty‑free entry if the origin or ship‑from country is both a nonmarket economy and on the priority watch list. Treasury could also block duty‑free entry when a suspended or debarred person helped bring in the goods. These changes would apply to entries on or after 180 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Suozzi
NY • D
Cosponsors
Dunn (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 1/9/2025
Allen
GA • R
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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