On-Site Verification
One of the enforcement tools being used is on-site verification of manufacturers. CBP Textile Production Verification teams travel to foreign factories to review and verify that wearing apparel that is shipped to the U.S. is produced at those facilities.
As a result of these site visits CBP Import Specialists will target shipments that are in violation. Sites are selected after extensive trade analysis.
The Textile Production Verification Team visited 15 countries in FY 2005. Over 480 factories were visited, of those 123 were closed, 8 showed evidence of transshipments, and 27 factories refused admission.
It was determined that 68 of those factories were high risk and 193 were low risk. The teams also discovered 16 FTA/trade legislation violations. To date $1.7 million goods have been seized from the factories that were closed.
Misdescribed Merchandise
CBP has initiated operations to address the misdescription of merchandise. CBP has seized millions in misdescribed goods. Import Specialists have identified schemes to circumvent safeguards by misdescribing merchandise at a much lower rate of duty.
In recent textile enforcement operations over $12 million in goods have been seized that were misdescribed. In addition, CBP import specialists have identified significant Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations.
Import Specialist FTA Training
CBP import specialists at the ports of entry receive extensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) training to target possible violation of FTA requirements in shipments entering U.S. trade.
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