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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 11 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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<p>On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new Trade Fraud Task Force, an interagency initiative aimed at &ldquo;robust enforcement&rdquo; against importers and other parties who defraud the United States by evading tariffs or importing prohibited goods. The task force will coordinate closely with DHS agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), to strengthen enforcement against trade fraud that threatens U.S. economic and national security.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Notes</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The task force enhances interagency coordination and signals the Trump administration&rsquo;s readiness to treat trade fraud as a national security concern, escalating the compliance burden for multinational companies.</li>
<li>Companies that fail to comply with customs obligations risk severe financial penalties, reputational harm, and a greater risk of criminal liability, including multimillion-dollar fines and lengthy prison terms. </li>
</ul>
<p><strong>View the entire client update in <a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/insights/doj-and-dhs-launch-joint-trade-fraud-task-force-what-multinational-companies-need-to-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HTML</a> or <a href="https://admin.thompsonhine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DOJ-and-DHS-Launch-Joint-Trade-Fraud-Task-Force-What-Multinational-Companies-Need-to-Know.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PDF</a> format.</strong></p>

core/freeform

SmarTrade

Partner

Francesca M.S. Guerrero

Samir D. Varma

Associate

Aaron C. Mandelbaum

International Trade

DOJ and DHS Launch Joint Trade Fraud Task Force: What Multinational Companies Need to Know