Trade Crime Bill Introduced in Senate
Following the lead of House Select Committee on China members, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., introduced a bill Aug. 1 to enhance criminal prosecutions for trade offenses.
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The House and Senate bills would create a task force within DOJ to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes, such as fraud and duty evasion. They would allow for parallel criminal and civil enforcement actions, and ask DOJ to train other law enforcement agencies. The legislation would authorize $20 million for the next fiscal year for the work, and require the attorney general to submit an annual report to Congress on DOJ's efforts to fight trade-related crime and how it's spending the money.
Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, are also sponsoring the bill.
“International kleptocrats, smugglers, and shady front companies exploit American trade laws designed to protect workers, companies, and consumers,” Whitehouse said in the news release. “Our bipartisan legislation will bolster the Department of Justice’s capacity to pursue criminal cases and hold violators accountable for their efforts to undermine American businesses.”