Congressional Textile Caucus Co-Chairman Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) joined 23 fellow lawmakers in introducing a measure that would enhance trade enforcement tools that protect textile and apparel jobs in the United States.
The Textile Enforcement and Security Act would provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection with more power to prevent fraudulent apparel from entering the country.
“This bipartisan measure will strengthen CBP’s ability to stop illegal textile trade and collect more duties and penalties from those importers trying to bring their goods to our shores,” Coble said.
Under the legislation, assessed fines and penalties would be used to reward informants who report violations to authorities.
The legislation would also add more CBP agents to textile and trade agreements divisions at U.S. ports and clarify their authority to seize fraudulent items.
Currently, yarn and fabric inputs in free trade agreements are tracked with paper. TESA would implement a centralized database that identifies high-risk imports and supply chains and tracks materials that are subject to free trade agreements.
The Department of Homeland Security and Treasury Department would both be directed to use fines and penalties collected from import violations to fund expenses that are related to customs enforcement and training if the bill is signed into law.