In a significant move to protect the American textile sector, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ramping up its efforts to tackle the issue of illicit trade, thereby supporting the livelihoods of over 500,000 Americans employed in this vital industry. Essential for national security, the textile industry benefits from the coordinated efforts of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under DHS’s guidance, to maintain market integrity, penalize customs offenders, and fortify the sector’s foundations. The agencies’ collective action plan promises to tighten enforcement, focusing on advanced targeting of minor shipments, collaborative special trade operations, broader customs audits, foreign verifications, and an expansion of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List.
Key initiatives of the strategy include:
- Enhanced scrutiny of small package shipments to prevent the entry of illegal merchandise into the U.S. by improving examination procedures and deploying advanced testing and targeted enforcement.
- Joint CBP-HSI operations to verify cargo compliance through thorough inspections, testing, and documentation review, coupled with civil penalties and potential criminal investigations for law violations.
- Increased customs audits and foreign verifications to assess risk more accurately, including visits to high-risk overseas facilities to confirm compliance with trade agreements like the USMCA and CAFTA-DR.
- Educational campaigns and industry partnerships to boost compliance awareness among importers and suppliers and facilitate legitimate trade.
- Expansion of the UFLPA Entity List to signal out harmful suppliers within the high-priority textile sector.
DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring fair competition for American businesses. The strategy aims to combat forced labor and other illicit practices that harm U.S. businesses and destabilize market prices.
Implementation of this comprehensive plan has begun, building upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to promote compliance. Achievements include the initiation of Trade Special Operations, numerous textile import inspections, significant trade audits, and the completion of Textile Production Verification Team visits to ensure adherence to preferential duty treatment under trade agreements.
The DHS’s vigorous actions underscore the critical role of the U.S. textile industry in the nation’s economic and health security, supplying essential products to the healthcare sector and military. Additionally, the Administration continues to foster economic growth in Central America, aiming to address migration causes and support secure trade in textiles and apparel.
Under Secretary Robert Silvers and CBP’s Troy Miller stressed the zero-tolerance stance on forced labor and the commitment to holding violators accountable, highlighting the administration’s dedication to protecting human rights and supporting fair labor practices.
This bolstered enforcement framework marks a determined step by DHS, CBP, and HSI to clamp down on illegal textile trade practices, securing American jobs and maintaining the integrity of the textile industry.
