Trade and Customs Enforcement and Investigations

Issues involving international trade, customs duties, and tariffs remain Trump Administration priorities and continue to impact entities of all sizes within the United States and across the globe. Over the past year, in addition to the imposition of new tariffs, the Trump Administration has announced several new initiatives and actions focused on enforcement of trade policies, including a cross-agency Trade Fraud Task Force between the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and US Department of Homeland Security.

Recent enforcement actions and a notable declination of criminal prosecution due to a company’s cooperation and remediation efforts demonstrate the risks and opportunities for importers and others. DOJ also continues to promote the False Claims Act (with its treble damages potential) as a tool for trade-related enforcement and encourage whistleblowers to file qui tam actions or report violative activity. All of these efforts signal a sustained and potentially enhanced focus in this area in 2026 and beyond, bringing heightened risks for private sector companies and individuals.

Join us on Wednesday, 4 February as a cross-disciplinary group of the firm's lawyers discuss the recent developments in this area and practices for companies to consider to mitigate risk and address potential investigative or enforcement activity.