Collins, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Halt the Flood of Illicit Packages into the United States

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins and a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues today released legislation to help Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stop the flow of illicit goods, including fentanyl, counterfeits, and products made with forced labor, into the country by tightening import requirements for low-value packages.

In recent years, the number of direct-to-consumer shipments from foreign corporate giants like Shein and Temu into the U.S. has quadrupled. These retailers are abusing a customs process called “de minimis” entry, which allows packages under $800 to enter the country tariff-free and under a streamlined process. As the volume of packages has increased, CBP has struggled to effectively target shipments and keep out packages containing illicit drugs, counterfeits, products made with forced labor and other goods that violate U.S. law.

“Chinese companies continue to abuse U.S. trade laws. It is necessary that we tighten customs oversight of low-value imports entering the United States to combat these abuses of tariff-free entry procedures,” Senator Collins said. “This bipartisan bill would strengthen CBP enforcement, improve data collection, and streamline the import approval process to address unlawful imports and protect domestic industries while ensuring fair trade practices.”

The Fighting Illicit Goods, Helping Trustworthy Importers, and Netting Gains (FIGHTING) for America Act would tighten the rules for de minimis entry and help CBP more effectively stop unlawful imports. The legislation would ensure that Chinese corporate giants cannot use the de minimis process to avoid paying tariffs on textiles, shoes and apparel or evade trade penalties imposed because of Chinese trade cheating.

Reducing the overall volume of low-value packages entering under de minimis would lower carbon emissions, promote enforcement of U.S. trade laws, and level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers and workers. The legislation would also improve oversight of the de minimis entry process by:

1. requiring CBP to collect more information about commercial packages;
2. facilitating the targeting and seizure of illicit goods; and
3. increasing penalties for bad actors.

This legislation is supported by the AFL-CIO, National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), Parents Against Vaping e-Cigs (PAVe), Voices for Awareness | Facing Fentanyl Now, National Association of Police Organizations, Fraternal Order of Police, United Steelworkers (USW), United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA), National Treasury Employees Union, and the Outdoor Industries Association.

In addition to Senator Collins, the FIGHTING for America Act was introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Bob Casey (D-PA).

The complete text of the bill can be read here.

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