HR 1869119th CongressIn Committee

Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025

Introduced: Mar 5, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill would create a dedicated, DOJ Criminal Division-backed structure to step up enforcement against trade-related crimes—crimes tied to evading tariffs, duties, and other import/export laws. It defines a broad set of conduct considered “trade-related crimes,” and directs the department to establish a new task force or program within 120 days of receiving funding to lead investigations and prosecutions. The measure would authorize $20 million for FY2026 (with at least 80% to go to the Criminal Division) to hire prosecutors, build cross-agency partnerships, and pursue multi-jurisdictional cases, while requiring annual reports to Congress on enforcement activity, funding use, and needs. The bill emphasizes interagency coordination, training, and the possibility of pursuing parallel criminal or civil actions, not limiting other enforcement tools. Overall, it aims to strengthen U.S. enforcement against import- and export-related crimes to protect American industry and labor.

Key Points

1Trade-related crimes defined and scope set: Crimes implicated by evasion of duties, tariffs, import/export restrictions or fees, and other trade laws (under statutes like the Tariff Act, Trade Acts, CAATSA, plus related criminal activities in imports/exports, money laundering, and smuggling). National security-related violations are explicitly excluded from the list in this framework.
2New DOJ enforcement structure: Within 120 days after appropriate funding, a task force or similar unit will be created in the Criminal Division to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes, led by a supervising criminal trial attorney, with new positions and staff to support cross-district cases and complex investigations.
3Expanded duties and collaboration: The unit will increase capabilities, prosecute more trade-related offenses (across numerous statutes listed in the bill), train with DHS and CBP, build multi-jurisdictional partnerships, support national coordination, and ensure regular consultation among enforcement components.
4Reporting to Congress: The Attorney General, with DHS input, must report annually on investigation/enforcement activity, including charges/indictments, how funds were used, and funding needs.
5Funding and use: Authorized $20 million for FY2026, with at least 80% dedicated to the Criminal Division for personnel, training, partnerships, and enforcement actions; remaining funds may support other DOJ criminal and civil enforcement. Funds stay available until spent.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- U.S. Department of Justice, especially the Criminal Division and prosecutors handling trade-related crimes; investigators and support staff; agencies involved in enforcement of trade laws (e.g., DHS components, CBP).Secondary group/area affected- U.S. industries and workers impacted by imports/exports (including those concerned with avoiding duties and ensuring fair competition); importers/exporters; industry associations; potentially foreign trading partners through increased coordination and enforcement.Additional impacts- Enhanced cross-agency and international cooperation on trade enforcement; potential increase in criminal prosecutions and related investigations (including crimes involving health, safety, financial, and economic aspects of trade, and cases involving forced labor or fraud tied to goods entering the U.S.).- Fiscal impact: initial funding of $20 million in FY2026, with ongoing annual reporting and budgeting implications for DOJ and partner agencies.- Civil enforcement and other remedies could continue in parallel, so enforcement tools are not limited to criminal action.Trade-related crimes: Broad set of offenses tied to evading tariffs or import/export rules, money laundering in trade contexts, smuggling, false labeling, fraud schemes, and other criminal activity connected to U.S. trade.Multi-jurisdictional: Involving multiple districts or cross-border cooperation with other states or countries.National security caveat: The bill explicitly says the listed crimes do not include national security-related violations (e.g., arms controls, export controls tied to national security). This clarifies the scope is primarily non-national-security trade offenses, though other laws and crimes can still be enforced separately.

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