Federal RuleAug 21
62
DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-hr-1284119th Congress
Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]
Introduced
Summary
Strengthen penalties and create private enforcement for customs fraud. The bill would raise financial penalties, impose temporary import bans on violators and their affiliates, and let U.S. manufacturers, unions, and trade groups sue over fraudulent or grossly negligent imports.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
New right to sue trade cheats
This bill would let an interested party sue if fraud or gross negligence in imports hurt them. A winner could get damages equal to the injury plus an extra penalty equal to three times that amount. They could also ask the court to stop further imports and recover costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. A case could be filed in federal court where the injury happened, with no minimum claim size. The United States could join the case. A court order could be nullified by the President under IEEPA.
Buyers assumed to know related violators
Purchasers who buy from two or more affiliated sellers after those sellers are found to have committed fraud or gross negligence would be presumed to know about the violations for the second and later purchases. This would raise legal risk for repeat buyers of related sellers. “Affiliated person” would use the statute’s definition.
Harsher penalties and bans for import fraud
This bill would raise penalties for customs fraud and gross negligence. For fraud, the penalty would be 3 times the goods’ U.S. value. The violator and its affiliates would be banned from importing for 5 years, starting when a final judgment is entered. For gross negligence, the penalty would follow the bill’s formula (the lesser of three or ten times domestic value). Those violators and their affiliates would face a 2-year import ban from the date of final judgment. “Affiliated person” would use the statute’s definition.
Violators lose importer-of-record status
If CBP or a court finds fraud or gross negligence, the person and its affiliates would be ineligible for the importer of record program. The Secretary would have to revoke an importer number if the person is later found ineligible. CBP could treat companies as affiliated using declared links like product classifications, shared exporters or shippers, and import volumes. “Affiliated person” would use the statute’s definition.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]
IL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]
AL • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/14/2025
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]
MO • R
Sponsored 2/14/2025
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]
AL • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]
AL • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4]
AL • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
GA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9]
NC • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 3/21/2025
Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]
NC • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/11/2025
Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/11/2025
Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2]
IA • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]
TX • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/22/2026
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 9/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov