The Trump administration has sharply escalated the federal government’s efforts to combat tariff evasion, signaling a new era of aggressive trade enforcement that should concern importers, multinationals, and corporate executives. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has identified trade and customs fraud, particularly tariff evasion, as a top enforcement priority. Unlike previous years, when violations were mainly addressed through civil administrative penalties by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), companies now face the risk of criminal investigations, severe penalties, and even imprisonment for individuals involved.

Central to this crackdown is the DOJ’s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit, which has been expanded and reorganized to focus specifically on customs fraud. The revamped unit, now called the Market, Government, and Consumer Fraud Unit, is bringing in additional attorneys from the Consumer Protection Branch to increase its capacity for investigating intricate and large-scale schemes involving tariff evasion. The DOJ is especially targeting cases that include long-running frauds, significant financial losses to the government, and the involvement of senior executives or corporate leadership.

These enforcement measures reflect a larger strategy of using a combination of civil remedies, criminal statutes, and whistleblower programs to identify and prosecute tariff evasion. The DOJ has even added trade violations to its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, offering financial incentives for insiders who provide actionable information leading to successful prosecutions.

In this heightened environment, businesses should urgently review their customs compliance programs, ensure robust internal reporting mechanisms, and be prepared to self-report potential violations. The risks are higher than ever, and federal authorities have made it clear: attempts to dodge tariffs now carry the real possibility of criminal prosecution and significant penalties. Corporate leaders must take note and act swiftly to minimize their exposure as enforcement ramps up.