CBP Statistics Show Massive Increase in Forced Labor Enforcement Actions
CBP detained cargo worth some $55.5 million due to withhold release orders during fiscal year 2020, the agency said in a recent update of trade statistics. That is up from $1.2 million in FY19, the agency said. During FY20, CBP made 324 WRO-related cargo detentions, up from 12 the previous fiscal year, it said. The increases reflect the issuance of more WROs, with 14 issued in 2020, up from six the year before, it said.
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CBP collected $74.4 billion in FY20, up from $71.9 billion the previous year, likely due to sections 201, 232 and 301 duties. While the duty collections were up, the total entry summaries and import values decreased. CBP completed 466 audits and collected $44.6 million as a result of those audits, with both numbers reflecting an increase from the previous year.
Total trade penalties issued have steadily increased over the past four years, though total trade liquidated damages fell slightly from FY19, it said. CBP collected $20.1 million from trade penalties and liquidated damages in FY20, down from $30.1 million last year. The number of total trade seizures increased year over year, with 73,708 seizures in FY20 and 62,509 in FY19, it said.