New Senate bill to tighten import requirements for low-value imports

August 9, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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NATIONWIDE — NEW BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION INTRODUCED FRIDAY IN THE U.S. SENATE would crack down on fentanyl smuggling and the import of products made with forced labor. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined her colleagues Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Casey (D-PA) in introducing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to stop the flow of illicit goods (including fentanyl, counterfeits and products made with forced labor) into the country by tightening import requirements for low-value packages. The number of direct-to-consumer shipments from foreign corporate giants like Shein and Temu into the U.S. has quadrupled in recent years, with retailers allegedly abusing a customs process called “de minimis” entry, which allows packages under $800 to enter the country tariff-free and under a streamlined process. As the volume of packages has increased, Customs and Border Protection has struggled to effectively target shipments and keep out packages containing illicit drugs, counterfeits, products made with forced labor and other goods that violate U.S. law.

The Fighting Illicit Goods, Helping Trustworthy Importers, and Netting Gains (FIGHTING) for America Act would tighten the rules for de minimis entry and help CBP more effectively stop unlawful imports.

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