House Passes Trade Crimes Act Again; Senate Must Act

For the second consecutive Congress, the bipartisan Trade Crimes Act (PAIL) passed the House by voice vote on August 31. The previous bill stalled in the Senate in 2024; the Senate has the opportunity to finish the job.

The legislation would give DOJ’s Trade Fraud Task Force and new Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section a statutory foundation, requiring dedicated prosecutorial capacity, specialized training, interagency coordination and annual reporting to Congress. Effective enforcement requires expertise and continuity, not initiatives dependent on individual officials or administrations.

EnforcementNOW congratulates Rep. Ashley Hinson and Select Committee leaders John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi for their bipartisan leadership. The Senate should pass this legislation and make trade-crime enforcement an enduring federal responsibility, with consequences strong enough to deter.