Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at stopping counterfeit and pirated imports from entering the United States. The proposed bill would change how Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can share shipping information about suspected counterfeit products with intellectual property rights holders, transportation carriers, and e-commerce platforms. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate last week by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
“As a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, I regularly speak to Utah companies that struggle to compete against IP theft and the proliferation of counterfeit material,” Rep. Moore said. “This bill will unlock real-time intelligence sharing between CBP and the private sector that will help shut down routes exploited by counterfeit operations and cut off counterfeit flows before they reach American shores.”
“Counterfeit goods undercut American businesses, threaten jobs, and endanger public safety. I’m proud to join my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee Rep. Blake Moore and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Maggie Hassan in introducing this legislation that enhances CBP’s ability to disrupt counterfeit trafficking networks and better safeguards our economy and communities,” Rep. Schneider said.
“Counterfeits threaten our nation’s economy and can put consumers at serious risk. By boosting information sharing between Customs and Border Protection, rights holders and commerce professionals, our bipartisan bill would establish a straightforward and effective approach to cutting back on potentially dangerous counterfeit products,” Senator Grassley said.
“This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will strengthen law enforcement efforts to identify and interdict counterfeit imports, helping to ensure that law enforcement, e-commerce platforms, and transportation carriers are working together to stop counterfeiters,” Senator Hassan said. “I will continue to support law enforcement efforts to protect consumers and keep counterfeit products from crossing our borders.”
“Counterfeit goods put American consumers, industry, and our supply chains at risk. This bill would empower CBP to protect the safety, intellectual property, and livelihoods of Americans. I thank Reps. Moore, Schneider, and Sen. Grassley for coming together on this effort,” said Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee.
“Stopping counterfeits at the border demands a coordinated and collaborative approach,” said Travis Johnson, Vice President of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition. “This commonsense legislation enhances CBP’s ability to leverage private sector expertise and intelligence, and we applaud the sponsors for their efforts to protect consumers and legitimate businesses from the harms caused by those illicit imports.”
“We are thankful for Chairman Grassley’s efforts to call for more information sharing for rights holders to quickly and effectively identify counterfeit and illicit products. Counterfeit goods do not just represent economic losses, lost sales, and lost jobs through brand identity theft; the digital devalue chain of counterfeits exposes consumers and workers to a multitude of dangers that pose real product safety hazards for consumers, workers, and the environment,” said Steve Lamar, President & CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association.
Currently CBP is only allowed limited sharing of shipment details when it suspects counterfeiting or piracy at U.S ports of entry; it cannot share packing materials or detailed documentation like images or invoices with parties such as property rights holders or major carriers including DHL or UPS as well as e-commerce platforms like Amazon or Etsy.
The new bill seeks explicit authority allowing CBP greater latitude in sharing all relevant shipment data with companies involved in importing goods when there is suspicion regarding counterfeiting or piracy activity—expanding disclosure also toward shipping firms as well as online marketplaces where these items might be sold.
If passed into law—as illustrated by an example involving repeated shipments from Shenzhen using fake addresses—the measure would allow CBP not only greater visibility but also enable early interception via partners like UPS or FedEx based on shared behavioral patterns.
The proposal has received backing from several industry groups including Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies; American Apparel & Footwear Association; Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council; Baby Safety Alliance; International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition; International Trademark Association; Partnership for Safe Medicines; Pharmaceutical Security Institute; Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade.
Blake Moore currently serves in Congress representing Utah’s 1st district since 2021 after replacing Rob Bishop ([source](https://moore.house.gov/)). He was born in Ogden in 1980 ([source](https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/M001216)), lives in Salt Lake City ([source](https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/4/18/23687063/blake-moore-utah-congressman-family-baby-boy)), graduated from University of Utah with a BA ([source](https://moore.house.gov/about)).
