Katie Britt (R-AL)
Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2026" aims to increase civil penalties and improve enforcement regarding customs fraud. It amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to increase fines for both fraudulent and grossly negligent violations. The bill introduces a presumption of knowledge for purchasers of merchandise from affiliated persons who have violated customs laws. It also establishes a private right of action allowing certain interested parties to sue for damages resulting from such violations. Additionally, the bill implements import prohibitions for violators and their affiliates. Finally, it excludes certain violators from participating in the importer of record program.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Domestic manufacturers and wholesalers gain new legal tools to protect their business interests from fraudulent importers.
- Scored +4
Would union members be better off under this?
The bill empowers unions to bring civil actions against those committing customs fraud that injures their industry.
- Scored +3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides domestic manufacturers and wholesalers a private right of action to recover damages from customs fraudters.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Penalties for Fraud and Negligence: The bill increases the financial penalties for fraudulent violations to three times the domestic value and increases penalties for grossly negligent violations (Section 2). This could serve as a stronger deterrent against trade cheating.
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Import Prohibitions: Individuals or entities that commit fraudulent violations are prohibited from importing merchandise for five years, while those guilty of gross negligence are prohibited for two years (Section 2). These prohibitions also extend to affiliated persons.
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Private Right of Action for Injured Parties: "Interested parties"—such as US manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, or unions—can bring civil actions against those who cause injury through customs fraud or gross negligence (Section 3).
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Enhanced Legal Relief: Parties bringing a private action can recover compensatory damages, an additional penalty of three times the amount of those damages, and the costs of the legal action, including attorney's fees (Section 3).
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Protection Against Shell Companies: The bill allows persons to be deemed "affiliated" based on information like similar merchandise or common shippers to prevent the use of shell companies to evade laws (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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New Legal Presumptions: The bill creates a presumption that a person has knowledge of a violation if they purchase merchandise from an affiliated person who has already been determined to have committed fraud or gross negligence (Section 2).
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Import Bans for Affiliates: The bill extends import prohibitions and the exclusion from the importer of record program to "affiliated persons," which could impact businesses that have a formal or ongoing relationship with a violator (Section 2 and Section 4).
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Exclusion from Importer of Record Program: Persons determined to have committed fraudulent or grossly negligent violations, as well as their affiliates, are ineligible to participate in the importer of record program (Section 4).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Domestic manufacturers and wholesalers gain new legal tools to protect their business interests from fraudulent importers. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill empowers unions to bring civil actions against those committing customs fraud that injures their industry.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides domestic manufacturers and wholesalers a private right of action to recover damages from customs fraudters. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill increases penalties and enforcement to prevent unfair trade practices through customs fraud.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill strengthens enforcement and oversight mechanisms for customs and trade laws.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By protecting domestic industries from trade cheating, the bill helps preserve domestic production jobs.
- 7/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/9/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina