Sponsors (45)
The bill strengthens DOJ capacity, coordination, and legal clarity to deter and prosecute trade-related crimes—benefiting enforcement, legitimate businesses, and consumers—while imposing higher compliance burdens on trade actors, raising taxpayer costs, and increasing the risk of more investigations that could affect traders' legal exposure.
Law enforcement, prosecutors, and investigators will gain expanded capacity and specialized teams to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes, improving detection, prosecution, and deterrence of smuggling, fraud, and counterfeit goods.
DOJ, HSI, CBP, and foreign partners will receive funding, training, and technical assistance that strengthens cross-border investigative capacity and multijurisdictional coordination.
Financial institutions and businesses will have clearer statutory definitions and guidance for detecting and reporting trade-based money laundering and sanctions violations, improving compliance clarity and interagency coordination.
Importers, exporters, small businesses, and banks will face higher compliance and reporting costs, more inspections, and potential transaction delays because of a broader criminal definition and increased enforcement activity.
Traders, importers, and individuals involved in cross-border commerce will face increased legal risk as an expanded criminal scope and intensified prosecutions raise the likelihood of investigations, prosecutions, or civil actions.
Taxpayers will bear increased federal spending to create DOJ positions, task forces, and the $20 million appropriation (and may face additional appropriation requests), raising fiscal costs.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DOJ Criminal Division task force to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes, mandates interagency coordination and reporting, and authorizes $20M for FY2026.
Creates a new DOJ Criminal Division task force and program to investigate and prosecute "trade-related crimes" (e.g., smuggling, trade-based money laundering, duty/tariff evasion, sanctions breaches). Requires interagency training and coordination with Homeland Security Investigations and Customs, annual public reporting to Congress on investigations, case statistics, and use of funds, and provides $20 million for FY2026 (with at least 80% for Criminal Division prosecutions). The task force must be stood up within 120 days after appropriations are available and the first report is due within one year of enactment.
Introduced March 5, 2025 by Ashley Hinson · Last progress March 5, 2025