Sponsors (4)
The bill strengthens public and private enforcement against import fraud—protecting domestic firms, jobs, and federal revenue—but significantly raises liability, enforcement discretion, and compliance risks that could disrupt supply chains, increase costs for importers, and raise prices for consumers.
Domestic manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, and unions can sue importers who commit fraud or gross negligence (including treble damages and attorney’s fees) and obtain injunctions to stop unfairly imported goods, helping protect U.S. businesses and jobs from dumped or misdeclared imports.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) gains clearer enforcement tools (presumption of knowledge, larger penalties, multi-year import bans, ability to revoke importer-of-record and infer affiliation), improving the government's ability to deter, stop, and punish import fraud and protect federal revenue.
Consumers and taxpayers face a lower risk of fraud and evasion in imported merchandise and a reduced likelihood of lost duties, because the bill enables removal of offending importers and revocation of fraudulent importer-of-record numbers.
Importers, suppliers, and affiliated U.S. entities face substantially higher liability exposure (treble damages, larger civil-penalty multipliers, multi-year bans), which could produce large monetary penalties, higher insurance and compliance costs, deter trade, and be passed on to consumers as higher prices.
Injunctions, importer-of-record revocations, and affiliation-based import prohibitions risk interrupting supply chains and reducing product availability, potentially harming small businesses and raising costs for consumers.
Expanded CBP discretion to infer affiliation and revoke importer status (potentially before judicial review) creates due-process, privacy, and administrative-burden concerns for legitimate businesses that must defend against affiliation claims.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by Katie Boyd Britt · Last progress February 9, 2026
Creates stronger penalties and new private lawsuits for import fraud and gross negligence. Buyers who purchase from repeat affiliated companies previously found to have committed fraud or gross negligence are presumed to have knowledge of the violation; civil penalties are raised and import bans are added for violators and their affiliates; and U.S. manufacturers, certain unions, and trade groups can sue for damages, equitable relief, and fees. Also bars persons found to have committed fraud or gross negligence (and their affiliates) from participating in the importer-of-record program and requires CBP to revoke importer numbers when a covered determination is made. Import bans begin on the date a court or CBP enters a final judgment for the violation.