H.R. 1284 · 119th Congress
Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025
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BostSponsor39 cosponsors · 11 D, 28 R
R
Balderson
NN
D
(Nikki) Budzinski
MC
R
Carey
GM
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Murphy
FM
D
Mrvan
NM
R
Moran
GP
R
Palmer
JP
D
Panetta
TS
D
Sewell
CT
R
Tenney
BV
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Van Duyne
MA
R
Alford
LG
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Gooden
CM
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Miller
DS
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Strong
RA
R
Aderholt
RK
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Krishnamoorthi
MR
R
Rogers
SB
D
Bishop
CD
D
Deluzio
MS
D
Sherrill
RH
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Hudson
JM
R
Moolenaar
CC
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(Chuck) Edwards
PH
R
Harrigan
NL
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Langworthy
MH
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Harris
TM
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Moore
AH
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Hinson
AM
R
McDowell
DR
R
Rouzer
RW
R
Weber
BB
R
Babin
DR
D
Ross
RD
D
DeLauro
MR
R
Rulli
MM
R
Miller-Meeks
RK
D
Khanna
GG
R
Grothman11 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill increases penalties for, and establishes additional enforcement mechanisms related to, fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Feb 13, 2025
Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025
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. (Currently, the maximum penalty is the domestic value of the merchandise.) It 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. (Currently, the maximum penalty is the lesser of the domestic value of the merchandise or four times the lawful duties, taxes, and fees.) It 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 or employee) of the person who committed the fraudulent or grossly negligent violation.
The bill establishes a private right of action for an interested party (e.g., a manufacturer) affected by customs fraud or grossly negligent violations.
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 revocation of their importer of record numbers.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025
Latest action (Feb 13, 2025): Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance · Origin: House · Introduced: Feb 13, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.