Importers bringing goods into the United States were hit with hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties in March, as enforcement efforts intensified against undervalued and improperly declared shipments.

According to the latest report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 71 audits completed in March uncovered approximately $310 million in duties and fees owed to the federal government—representing a 10,590% increase compared to February’s $2.9 million.

The number of audits also jumped sharply, rising over 150% from February levels as part of a broader mandate to tighten trade enforcement.

Trade Policy Shifts Lead to More Audits and Penalties

The spike in assessments is tied to a new push by the White House to identify undervalued imports, particularly goods entering the U.S. from China. Historically, CBP has audited only a small percentage of shipments, but the new mandate calls for increased oversight.

“Customs and Border Patrol has been finding a ton of undervalued goods. Check the numbers for March,” said Aaron Rubin, CEO of ShipHero, in a recent social media post.

Despite the surge in assessed duties and fees, CBP reported collecting only about $49 million of the $310 million identified, a figure that includes recoveries from prior fiscal years.

Additional Tariffs Under Emergency Measures

The CBP report also details revenues collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which imposes extra tariffs in response to issues such as the fentanyl crisis and migration pressures. These measures, originally enacted during the Trump administration, remain in effect for goods from Canada and Mexico—with certain exceptions like Canadian energy resources.

Preliminary March data shows significant revenue collection from these tariffs:

  • $7.89 billion from imports originating in China
  • $2.87 billion from Mexico
  • $1.04 billion from Canada
  • $1.23 billion from approximately 90 other nations under reciprocal measures
  • Other Key Enforcement Actions

In March, CBP also reported:

  • Processing 3 million entry summaries valued at over $352 billion, up 16% from February.
  • Identifying $15 billion in duties owed to the government.
  • Intercepting 434 shipments worth $2.3 million for suspected forced labor violations.
  • Seizing 1,827 shipments containing counterfeit goods valued at over $913 million.
  • The latest data highlights CBP’s intensified focus on trade compliance, counterfeiting, and ethical sourcing as part of its broader enforcement mandate.

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