Increasing Collections at Customs and Border Protection
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collections of trade-related duties and fees could be enhanced. Actions by Congress and by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have begun to generate additional revenue for the United States, and additional attention to customs operations at CBP could further increase collections.
Congress's termination of the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Agreement led to several hundred million dollars of antidumping duties being retained this year by the U.S. Treasury rather than being distributed among private firms. In addition, GAO reports on customs revenue functions, in-bond programs, and intellectual property enforcement have suggested ways in which CBP can strengthen these functions and highlighted issues that may enhance collections in the future. Such steps could help reduce the $613 million shortfall in collecting antidumping and countervailing duties during fiscal years 2001-2007. Furthermore, in response to a GAO recommendation, DHS is taking actions to identify areas of high risk related to customs revenue functions and initiating performance audits to explore and mitigate those risks. CBP is also taking steps to improve its ability to reconcile in-bond documents issued at the arrival port with documents at the destination port to ensure that the cargo is either officially entered with appropriate duties or that quotas apply.
^ Back to topKey Reports
- Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Congress and Agencies Should Take Additional Steps to Reduce Substantial Shortfalls in Duty Collection
- GAO-08-391, March 26, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 71 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- Intellectual Property: Better Data Analysis and Integration Could Help U.S. Customs and Border Protection Improve Border Enforcement Efforts
- GAO-07-735, April 26, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 70 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- International Trade: Persistent Weaknesses in the In-Bond Cargo System Impede Customs and Border Protection's Ability to Address Revenue, Trade, and Security Concerns
- GAO-07-561, April 17, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 49 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- Customs Revenue: Customs and Border Protection Needs to Improve Workforce Planning and Accountability
- GAO-07-529, April 12, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 50 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- International Trade: Issues and Effects of Implementing the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act
- GAO-05-979, September 26, 2005
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 116 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
