According to entrepreneurs and lawyers, they regularly receive offers to arrange "turnkey" delivery of goods from China with all fees paid at a price starting from $0.7 per kilogram. Ryan Peterson, CEO of the logistics platform Flexport, noted that such rates are impossible, as tariffs are calculated based on the value of the goods, not their weight. Some schemes promise savings on tariffs of up to 40–50%.
One common practice is the use of the Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) system, where the seller assumes all costs for delivery and customs clearance. In this case, fraudsters may undervalue the goods or use incorrect codes to obtain preferential rates, while shell companies act as importers. When such violations are detected, it often turns out that the importing companies are fictitious.
Market participants emphasize that such practices create unfair competition. Michael Kersey, president of American Lawn Mower Company, reported that his company pays up to 45% in tariffs on Chinese goods, while competitors can avoid these costs by offering prices 10–20% lower. Ram Radhakrishnan, head of the freight forwarder Silq, also noted that he is losing clients due to suspiciously low prices.
U.S. authorities are aware of the existing problem; however, their capabilities are limited. Former Department of Homeland Security employee Carrie Owens noted that the agency's resources have been partially reallocated to border security, complicating the detection of shell companies. Moreover, pursuing fraudsters operating outside the U.S. is extremely difficult.
In August 2025, an interagency task force to combat trade fraud was established in the U.S., and a program for informants was launched. Nevertheless, as the customs service warns, investigating such cases can take several years.
It was previously reported that the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration significantly increased costs for American companies. Studies show that the expenses of small and medium-sized businesses increased several times over the past year.
