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Investing.com -- Federal prosecutors are preparing to criminally charge companies and individuals attempting to evade U.S. tariffs as President Donald Trump prepares to implement a new round of levies next week.
The Justice Department is adding "significant personnel" to a new unit focused on trade fraud and other corporate crimes, according to Bloomberg. This marks a shift from historical practices where tariff evasion was typically handled through fines or civil settlements rather than criminal prosecution.
U.S. attorneys’ offices have been gathering records of transactions involving foreign goods during the Biden administration to build potential cases, establishing a framework for prosecuting those who may try to avoid Trump’s upcoming tariffs.
Matthew Galeotti, head of the department’s criminal division, stated that while some negligent acts or administrative errors may be handled civilly, "criminal enforcement is appropriate for significant violations of law."
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