S. 3808 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 9, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens penalties for customs law violations
When someone breaks customs laws by fraudulently misrepresenting what they're importing or being grossly negligent about it, this bill makes the punishment much tougher. The maximum financial penalties increase significantly, and violators face bans on importing goods into the U.S. for several years. The bill also prevents violators and their affiliated people (like family members or employees) from participating in customs programs that make importing easier.
How it affects you
If you import goods into the United States, this affects you directly—the consequences for breaking customs rules are now stricter. Legitimate importers and manufacturers may benefit because the bill gives them a way to take legal action if they're harmed by someone else's customs fraud. For most everyday Americans, this mainly means stronger enforcement of trade laws, though you likely won't notice day-to-day changes.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 9, 2026)
Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2026
This bill increases penalties for, and establishes additional enforcement mechanisms related to, fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws.
Specifically, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for a fraudulent violation to three times the domestic value of the merchandise. (Currently, the maximum penalty is the domestic value of the merchandise.) It prohibits a person who commits a fraudulent violation from importing merchandise into the United States for a five-year period.
Additionally, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for a grossly negligent violation to the lesser of (1) 3 times the domestic value of the merchandise; or (2) 10 times the lawful duties, taxes, and fees. (Currently, the maximum penalty is the lesser of the domestic value of the merchandise or four times the lawful duties, taxes, and fees.) It prohibits a person who commits a grossly negligent violation from importing merchandise into the United States for a two-year period.
Further, the bill applies these importation bans to an affiliated person (e.g., a family member or employee) of the person who committed the fraudulent or grossly negligent violation.
The bill establishes a private right of action for an interested party (e.g., a manufacturer) affected by customs fraud or grossly negligent violations.
The bill prohibits any person (or an affiliated person) who commits a fraudulent or grossly negligent violation from participating in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Importer of Record program, and further requires revocation of their importer of record numbers.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS. 3808
A BILL
Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL) · Introduced Feb 9, 2026 · Foreign Trade and International Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 9, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”
Sections
Sections · 4
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Increase in civil penalties for fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of United States customs lawsNo change
- Sec. 3Private enforcement action for customs fraudNo change
- Sec. 4Exclusion of persons that have committed fraudulent or grossly negligent violations of United States customs laws from participation in the importer of record programNo change