In 2016, the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) program began investigating allegations of AD/CVD evasion under the authority of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (TFTEA). An archive of recent EAPA actions is published here to provide a historical perspective on the program for the American public.
EAPA Action: Notice of Investigation in EAPA Case 7520 - Wooden Cabinets and Vanities
December 23, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On December 23, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Notice of Initiation of Investigation as part of an ongoing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7520, into the alleged evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) order involving the transshipment of wooden cabinets and vanities and component parts thereof (WCV) from The People’s Republic of China (China). During the course of its investigation, CBP determined that the evidence reasonably suggested that BGI Group Inc. doing business as U.S. Cabinet Depot (BGI) imported WCV from China by transshipping them through Cambodia to evade AD/CVD orders A-570-106 and C-570-107, potentially evading a significant amount in antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Determination as to Evasion in EAPA Case 7395 - Glycine
December 21, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On December 21, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its determination as to evasion by Tiana International LLC (Tiana) in its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7395, into the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders for glycine from the People’s Republic of China (China). CBP found that there is not substantial evidence that the Tiana evaded AD/CVD orders A-570-836 and C-570-081 by transshipping glycine through India.
EAPA Action: Notice of Interim Measures in EAPA Case 7501 - Hangers
December 18, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On December 18, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notice of investigation and interim measures as part of an ongoing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7501, into the alleged evasion of an antidumping duty (AD) order involving the transshipment of steel wire hangers (hangers) from The People’s Republic of China (China). During the course of its investigation, CBP developed a reasonable suspicion that CEK Group LLC, D&J Trading Inc., Power Poly & Hanger Supply Inc., and KSA Supply Corporation (the Importers) imported hangers from China by transshipping them through Thailand to evade AD order A-570-918, potentially evading a significant amount in antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Notice of Interim Measures in EAPA Case 7509 - Steel Wheels
November 23, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On November 23, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Notice of Investigation and Interim Measures as part of an ongoing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7509, into the alleged evasion of an antidumping duty order involving the transshipment of steel wheels from The People’s Republic of China (China). During the course of its investigation, CBP developed a reasonable suspicion that Vanguard National Trailer Corp. (Vanguard) imported steel wheels from China by transshipping them through Thailand to evade AD/CVD orders A-570-082 and C-570-083, potentially evading a significant amount in antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Determination as to Evasion in EAPA Case 7335 - Pipe Fittings
November 6, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On November 6, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its determination as to evasion against Norca Industrial Company, LLC (Norca) and International Piping & Procurement Group, LP (IPPG) in its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7335, into the evasion of an antidumping and duty (AD) order for carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings (pipe fittings) from The People’s Republic of China (China). CBP found substantial evidence that Norca and IPPG evaded AD order A-570-814 by transshipping the merchandise through Vietnam. Norca and IPPG did not declare that the merchandise was subject to an AD order upon entry and no cash deposits were collected on the merchandise. As a result, Norca and IPPG evaded a significant amount of antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Determination as to Evasion in EAPA Case 7348 - Aluminum Extrusions
November 2, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On November 2, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its determination as to evasion against Florida Aluminum Extrusion, LLC (Florida Aluminum), Hialeah Aluminum Supply, Inc. (Hialeah Aluminum), and Global Aluminum Distributor, LLC (Global Aluminum) (collectively, the Importers) in its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7348, into the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders for aluminum extrusions from The People’s Republic of China (China). CBP found substantial evidence that the Importers evaded AD/CVD orders A-570-967 and C-570-968 by transshipping the merchandise through the Dominican Republic. The Importers did not declare that the merchandise was subject to AD/CVD orders upon entry and no cash deposits were collected on the merchandise. As a result, the Importers evaded a significant amount of AD/CVD duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Determination as to Evasion in EAPA Case 7357 - Hangers
October 26, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On October 26, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its determination as to evasion against N&M Hangers LLC (N&M); Direco International LLC (Direco); PNJ Import, Inc. (PNJ Import); LGA Trading Inc. (LGA); Chunghwa Prince Group Corporation (Chunghwa); WHL International Inc. (WHL); Wah Hing Lee Investment, Inc. (Wah Hing Lee); SK Supply Corp. (SK Supply); KS Supply; and Leco Supply (Leco) (collectively, the Importers) in its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7357, into the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders for steel wire hangers from Vietnam. CBP found substantial evidence that the Importers evaded AD/CVD orders A-552-812 and C-552-813 by misrepresenting the country of origin as Laos. The Importers did not declare that the merchandise was subject to AD/CVD orders upon entry, and no cash deposits were collected on the merchandise. As a result, the Importers evaded a significant amount of antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Determination as to Evasion - Polyethylene Bags
October 21, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On October 21, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its determination as to evasion against Mac Swed, Inc. (Mac Swed) in its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation into the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders for polyethylene retail carrier bags (polyethylene bags) from Vietnam. CBP found that substantial evidence that Mac Swed evaded AD/CVD duty orders A-552-806 and C-552-805 by misclassifying the merchandise and misrepresenting the country of origin. Mac Swed did not declare that the merchandise was subject to the AD/CVD orders upon entry and, as a result, no cash deposits were collected on the merchandise. As a result, Mac Swed evaded a significant amount of antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Determination as to Evasion - Frozen Warmwater Shrimp
October 13, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On October 13, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its Determination as to Evasion against MSeafood Corporation (MSeafood) in its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation into the evasion of an antidumping duty order for frozen warmwater shrimp from India. CBP found that substantial evidence that MSeafood evaded antidumping duty order A-533-840 by transshipping shrimp through Vietnam, not reporting the entries as subject to antidumping and countervailing duty orders, and failing to pay cash deposits. As a result, MSeafood evaded a significant amount of antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Notice of Interim Measures - Aluminum Sheet
September 28, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On September 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Notice of Investigation and Interim Measures as a part of an ongoing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation into the alleged evasion of antidumping duty and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders involving the transshipment of Chinese-origin common alloy aluminum sheet (aluminum sheet) through Turkey. During the course of its investigation, CBP developed a reasonable suspicion that AA Metals Inc. (AA Metals) transshipped aluminum sheet through Turkey to evade AD/CVD orders A-570-073 and C-570-074, potentially evading a significant amount in duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Determination as to Evasion - Hangers
September 23, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On September 23, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its Determination as to Evasion against AB MA Distribution Corp (AB MA) and J&S Trading Inc. (J&S) (collectively, the Importers) in its Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation into the evasion of an antidumping duty order for steel wire hangers from The People’s Republic of China. EAPA found that substantial evidence that the Importers evaded antidumping duty order A-570-918 by transshipping hangers through India, not reporting the entries as subject to antidumping and countervailing duty orders, and failing to pay cash deposits. As a result, the Importers evaded a significant amount of antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
EAPA Action: Notice of Interim Measures - Steel Gratings
September 18, 2020 | EAPA Action
WASHINGTON—On September 18, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Notice of Investigation and Interim Measures as a part of an ongoing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation into the alleged evasion of an antidumping duty order involving the misclassification of steel gratings from The People’s Republic of China. During the course of its investigation, CBP developed a reasonable suspicion that Ikadan System USA, Inc. (Ikadan) imported steel gratings from China without properly identifying the merchandise as subject to an antidumping duty order, potentially evading a significant amount in antidumping duties owed to the U.S. Government.
CBP Media Release: CBP Takes Interim Measures for Transshipment of Glycine in Ongoing Enforce and Protect Act Investigation
December 8, 2017 | CBP Media Release
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a notice of interim measures on Dec. 4 to importer, Ceka Nutrition, Inc., in its ongoing Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation concerning the evasion of the anti-dumping duty order for glycine from The People’s Republic of China. CBP found a reasonable suspicion that Ceka Nutrition was entering glycine that had been transshipped from China through Cambodia.
CBP Media Release: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Exercises EAPA Authority, Launches Multiple Investigations on Illegal Imports From China
August 17, 2017 | CBP Media Release
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued ten (10) decisions this week in Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigations, concerning the evasion of the anti-dumping duty orders for wire hangers and wooden bedroom furniture. Of note is that CBP issued its first final determination in an EAPA investigation on Monday August 14th, finding substantial evidence that wire hangers were imported through evasion. Specifically, the hangers were transshipped from China through Thailand to evade the anti-dumping duties.
CBP Media Release: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Exercises EAPA Authority, Launches Multiple Investigations on Illegal Imports From China
August 17, 2017| CBP Media Release
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued ten (10) decisions this week in Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigations, concerning the evasion of the anti-dumping duty orders for wire hangers and wooden bedroom furniture. Of note is that CBP issued its first final determination in an EAPA investigation on Monday August 14th, finding substantial evidence that wire hangers were imported through evasion. Specifically, the hangers were transshipped from China through Thailand to evade the anti-dumping duties.
CBP Media Release announcing launch of online portal for filing Enforce and Protect Act Allegations
December 5, 2016| CBP Media Release
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the launch of an online portal for parties to submit Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) allegations on CBP.gov. The new portal will make it easier and more efficient for members of the trade community and federal government agencies to submit allegations regarding evasion of anti-dumping or countervailing duties against U.S. importers.