U.S. BUSINESSES ACROSS INDUSTRIES LAUNCH ALLIANCE TO SPOTLIGHT TRADE FRAUD AND DEMAND ENFORCEMENT OUTCOMES

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of companies who are members of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) on October 6th announced the launch of the Industry Alliance for Trade EnforcementNOW — an industry-led alliance created to confront systemic trade fraud and rally companies to take action. Since Section 301 tariffs were announced in 2018, an estimated $194 billion in government revenue has been evaded—not counting additional exposure under Section 232, Section 201, IEEPA, or AD/CVD duties and penalties. CPA strongly supports this effort.

The Alliance's first mission is building awareness and prompting near-term action. Trade fraud is happening at scale across multiple industries. Law-abiding U.S. businesses are often unsure how to proceed—and many fear retaliation from customers or suppliers if they speak out. Others have submitted False Claims Act matters, EAPA petitions, and CBP e-Allegations with little acknowledgment and no visibility into outcomes. In the meantime, honest U.S. companies bear the cost.

What makes this Alliance different is the user vantage point. Founding members have used the tools, invested years and tens of millions of dollars, filed allegations, and funded cases—yet outcomes have fallen short. Pooling cross-industry experience, the Alliance proposes a short list of practitioner-driven enforcement priorities (not new trade policy).

"We've all fought this fight alone—and hit the same walls. It is a frightening and lonely place to be for our companies and our workers," said David Rashid, Executive Chairman of Plews & Edelmann. "This Alliance exists to shine a light on the fail points, give law-abiding companies a voice, and push for immediate, practical improvements to the way enforcement is handled. It's time to stop trade cheats from harming American workers and businesses, draining government revenue, and putting businesses that follow the rules at a disadvantage."

"Chinese exporters and complicit importers are exploiting weak enforcement, are evading duties and driving U.S. companies to shutter their factories," said Betsy Natz, CEO of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association. "Without immediate and aggressive action, American jobs and businesses will continue to disappear."

"CPA is proud to support this effort because trade fraud undermines the very foundation of fair competition in America," said Zach Mottl, Chairman of CPA. "When foreign exporters and bad actors game the system, they not only cheat U.S. taxpayers out of billions in revenue, they devastate American manufacturers and workers who play by the rules. Strong enforcement isn't optional—it's essential to rebuilding our industrial base and securing long-term prosperity for American communities."

Immediate Enforcement Priorities (near-term, practical steps)

• Transparency → Accountability → Action (Outcome Reporting): Co-develop and publish a public enforcement scorecard by January 15, 2026, then update it regularly—tracking cases charged, dollars recovered, and prison sentences imposed under the Trade Fraud Task Force, the False Claims Act, 19 U.S.C. § 1592, and EAPA (19 C.F.R. Part 165). Today, no meaningful public outcome reporting exists.
  
  
• Pass the Protecting American Industry and Labor (PAIL) Act in 2025: Establish a dedicated Trade Crime Unit with $20 million annually, codified inter-agency coordination, and Attorney General reporting to Congress.
  
  
• Pass the Fighting the Trade Cheats Act in 2026: Create a private right of action for companies covered by AD/CVD orders to stop cheats in court and recover damages—adding speed and scale to enforcement.
  
  
• Pass the Manifest Modernization Act: Deliver mode-neutral transparency for all shipments (ocean, air, truck, rail, express) so watchdogs, journalists, and agencies can spot suspicious patterns sooner. Close long-standing blind spots, standardize data, and enable secure public access that protects privacy while exposing fraud.
  
  
• End the Non-Resident Importer (NRI) Authorization: Require a U.S.-domiciled importer (or joint liability for a U.S. consignee) so enforcement has a reachable defendant, stronger penalties, and real accountability—closing the "ghost importer" loophole.

The Alliance invites companies across sectors to learn more, sign the living petition, and add their voice to a step-change in trade-law enforcement.

The Alliance stands ready to inform and collaborate with the White House, federal agencies, and Congress—providing practical rationale and implementation pathways for these priorities.

The Alliance's goal is to replace the current culture of impunity with the full force of U.S. enforcement—protecting American workers, businesses, communities, and public revenue.

SOURCE Industry Alliance for Trade EnforcementNOW