CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Mike Bost (R-IL)

Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025

H.R. 1284 · House bill Foreign Trade and International Finance

A Republican bill with 11 Democratic cosponsors · See all 39 cosponsors

Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill, called the Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025, changes the Tariff Act of 1930 to crack down on customs fraud and gross negligence. It increases the civil financial penalties that rule-breakers have to pay to the government. It also adds new import bans and kicks fraudulent actors out of the importer of record program. Additionally, the bill allows injured domestic businesses, workers' unions, and trade associations to sue wrongdoers directly in federal court. Finally, it lets private plaintiffs recover triple damages and attorney fees if they prove they were harmed by customs violations.

Yes· 3 of 7

  • Scored +6

    Would union members be better off under this?

    The bill provides specific legal standing for unions to protect their industry interests against fraud.

  • Scored +5

    Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?

    The bill empowers unions to bring civil actions against companies committing customs fraud that harms their industry.

  • Scored +5

    Does this make trade with other countries easier?

    The bill aims to level the playing field in international trade by punishing fraudulent importers.

The opposite

  • Scored -3

    Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?

    The creation of a presumption of knowledge and presidential nullification powers may impact due process rights.