WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) released the following statement in response to a report from the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office entitled “Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: CBP Action Needed to Reduce Duty Processing Errors and Mitigate Nonpayment Risk.” 

“Today’s GAO report highlights that the Administration needs to do much more to enforce our trade laws. It is unacceptable that $2.3 billion in antidumping and countervailing duties owed to the U.S. Government by foreign companies who have violated our trade laws still hasn’t been collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).   

“Congress has long urged the Administration to improve enforcement and has passed legislation to help address this problem. Last year, when we enacted the Enforce and Protect Act as part of the Customs bill, we created new tools for the Administration to fight the longstanding problem of evasion of our antidumping and countervailing duty laws by foreign companies. Congress mandated that these provisions enter into effect by August 22nd. 

“I urge the Administration to show that it is serious about enforcing our trade laws. First, it should meet our deadline and issue regulations that fully implement the new statutory requirements. Second, it should immediately implement procedures following today’s GAO recommendations to improve CBP’s procedures. By taking strong action, we can help U.S. manufacturers who are hurt by unfair trade practices.”