The US government plans to crack down on tariff evasion through criminal means

On July 24th, according to foreign media reports, US federal prosecutors are preparing to file criminal charges against companies and individuals trying to evade US tariffs. For a long time, these issues have been dealt with through fines or civil settlements, and rarely through criminal prosecution. But now, the US Department of Justice says it will add "significant personnel" to a new unit, focusing on trade fraud and other corporate crimes. Meanwhile, prosecutors in the US Attorney's Office have been demanding records of transactions involving foreign goods during the Biden administration, as they look to build a case against it - a potential plan to prosecute those accused of evading new tariffs. "While some acts of negligence or administrative error may be more suitable for civil action, criminal enforcement is appropriate for serious violations," said Mr. Galeotti, head of the justice department's criminal division.