Importer Pleads Guilty to Duty Evasion

The owner of a U.S. based import business faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a payment of $1,090,000 in restitution. The importer was charged with attempting to evade the 25% additional China duty along with the antidumping duties that were due on imports of porcelain tiles. More on this story can be found HERE.

Did you know that in many instances, importers that violate U.S. laws and regulations are unaware of the violations? While some importers conspire to defraud the U.S. Government, others are simply unaware of the full impact of the laws and regulations impacting their imported products. Sadly, ignorance of the laws or regulations is not a valid excuse. Every importer is expected to exercise "reasonable care" and due diligence with all their import shipments. Now is the time to review your imports to ensure you have completed the due diligence needed to protect your company and its assets. We are here to help you, simply contact me at steve@cssbrokers.com for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. Investing just 30 minutes of your time could save you from huge risks.