DOJ Expands Tariff Evasion Crackdown with Cross-Agency Task Force

On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) officially announced that it is partnering with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a new Cross-Agency Trade Fraud Task Force. The Task Force will coordinate efforts between DOJ’s Civil and Criminal Divisions and DHS to pursue enforcement actions against importers that unlawfully evade tariffs and other customs duties, as well as against parties that import prohibited goods in violation of the law.

The announcement comes just six weeks after DOJ deployed its Market Integrity and Major Frauds (MIMF) Unit to take direct aim at tariff evasion schemes. As we previously reported, DOJ’s deployment of the MIMF Unit, part of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, signaled the Department’s intent to treat customs fraud as an enforcement priority. The MIMF Unit was tasked with investigating importers and intermediaries suspected of concealing the true value, origin, or classification of goods to sidestep U.S. tariffs. Partly to reflect this focus, the MIMF Unit was recently renamed the Market, Government, and Consumer Fraud (MGC) Unit.

From Specialized Unit to Full Task Force

While the MGC Unit deployment was significant in itself, the new Task Force represents an escalation in scope and ambition. According to DOJ, “the Trade Fraud Task Force will work closely with its law enforcement partners at the Department of Homeland Security, specifically U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations, to identify and combat trade fraud that threatens our economic and national security interests.”

DOJ expects the Task Force will bring “robust enforcement against importers and other parties who seek to defraud the United States.” According to DOJ, by combining criminal prosecution tools with civil remedies such as the False Claims Act, the Task Force will “serve the dual purposes of a more efficient government for the taxpayer and improved enforcement and deterrent outcomes.”

Why Now?

The timing of the announcement of the Task Force is no accident, reflecting ongoing volatility in global supply chains as trade disputes, evolving sanctions regimes, and national security concerns continue to shape U.S. tariff policy. DOJ and DHS officials have consistently expressed concern that importers may exploit the complexity and frequent changes in customs regulations to underpay duties, misclassify products, or obscure the true origin of sensitive goods.

The establishment of a cross-agency framework underscores the government’s sustained commitment to tariff compliance and enforcement, even as legal challenges to President Trump’s tariffs proceed in the courts. By integrating resources from multiple agencies, the Task Force aims to close enforcement gaps, improve detection of trade fraud schemes, and ensure that tariff policy objectives are met in a rapidly changing global environment.

What the Task Force Will Do

The Trade Fraud Task Force is expected to:

• Coordinate investigations across agencies to eliminate duplication and close enforcement gaps.
• Leverage data analytics to spot suspicious import patterns and flag high-risk shipments.
• Pursue parallel actions, meaning companies could face simultaneous criminal charges, civil suits, and administrative penalties.
• Target entire sectors, particularly industries historically vulnerable to tariff manipulation, such as steel, aluminum, textiles, and electronics.

The Road Ahead

DOJ’s announcement of its Trade Fraud Task Force represents the latest in a series of initiatives underscoring the Department’s heightened focus on customs enforcement and trade fraud. Although DOJ has not yet disclosed specific cases arising from the new Task Force, officials are expected to announce early investigations to demonstrate the initiative’s teeth. Given the pace of developments since July, further announcements could come quickly.

For now, the creation of the Task Force marks a new phase in tariff enforcement, characterized by the integration of civil and criminal enforcement tools and enhanced multi-agency coordination. The Task Force is also actively encouraging whistleblower participation and industry referrals to identify and address trade fraud schemes.

Looking ahead, the enforcement landscape is expected to evolve rapidly, with the potential for both high-profile prosecutions and broader industry-wide investigations. DOJ’s commitment to robust enforcement signals that tariff evasion and related customs violations are now a top priority, and stakeholders should anticipate increased scrutiny, greater interagency cooperation, and more aggressive pursuit of trade fraud cases.