U.S. Customs uncovers $1 billion duty evasion via Enforce and Protect Act

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigations have recovered more than $1 billion in additional duties, a record amount for the program's ten‑year history and three times the annual average. CBP issued 14 notices of determination in 2026 covering products such as solar cells, lawn‑groomers, lumber, pipes, xanthan gum, metal lockers and wooden furniture.

Investigators conducted on‑site visits to Mexico, Thailand, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to verify origins and values. Since the act's inception in 2016, CBP has completed 394 EAPA investigations, finding duty evasion in 188 cases and keeping 108 investigations active. The agency has reclaimed or demanded payment of over $1 billion in anti‑dumping and countervailing duties. CBP officials emphasized that the program “supports the America First Trade Policy” and that enforcing these duties creates a level playing field for domestic industries.