Customs and the protection of American borders experienced a sharp increase in reports on potential price escape after President Donald Trump suddenly imposed new tasks on more than 100 countries earlier this year, according to the data that the agency shared with Wired. From March to May, the official e-allegations line of the CBP received 542 complaints concerning the alleged dodge of the functions, an increase of almost 160% compared to the same three months in 2024.
Importers have long tried to escape the prices and reduce their costs by errifying the origin, the value and the nature of the products they bring to the country. But the new data suggests that Trump’s policies may have pushed more companies to adopt this type of legally risky tactics. During the same recent period, CBP aligned 242 advice on other types of potential violations, such as the import of counterfeit or dangerous items, an increase of only 42%. Submissions can be done anonymously, and commercial experts say that they often come from former employees or competitors of a company.
Prosecutor Jennifer Diaz said her law firm deposits “tons of e-allegations” on behalf of the customers, and she found that CBP often takes them seriously. It takes up to half a year for the agency to check a complaint, but the wait can be worth it. When the CBP catches reprehensible acts, it can “help level the rules of the game”, explains Diaz, including by eliminating the artificially low prices of a market.
We do not know if the CBP is equipped to manage the overvoltage of the advice. The Congress has not yet finalized the legislation known as Big Beautiful Bill Act which would increase border staff and resources to counter smuggling. In April, CBP was on the right track to make almost the same number of audits and issues as many penalties for alleged commercial violations as in recent years, according to public data.
Last year, a general audit report by the Inspector General of the US Treasury Department concluded that the CBP had not followed the results of the electronic allegation councils and called for the implementation of new training and surveillance. From October 2018 to September 2020, the CBP confirmed 68 on more than 900 service escape advice it received, according to the report. But out of around $ 65 million in unpaid tasks, CBP did not know how much it ended up collecting. The agency replied that it was already deploying improvements.
The data on advice and penalties are important because, unless Trump’s prices are sufficiently applied, they can be below the president’s declared objectives to increase revenues and American manufacturing. Some companies may also become frustrated by its administration if their illegal conduct by their competitors becomes unpunished. Companies reluctant to engage in escape could lose market share to those who are more willing to play as prices increase. Offers can cope with a variety of loads and be on the hook for the multiple of the amount they have escaped.
CBP spokesperson Trish Driscle refused to comment on the number of escape surveys according to American ports and if they have increased, citing sensitivities of application of the law. In general, she says that the agency uses a combination of “advanced analysis of data, targeting based on risks, inspections, audits, investigations and coordination with government agencies to identify the evasion models”.
