TriLink Saw Chain, LLC, and TriLink Global, LLC (TriLink), nationwide importers of chain saw chains and blades manufactured in China and intended for sale in the United States, have agreed to pay $525,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by misclassifying their imported chain saw chains and blades to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP).
The government specifically alleged that from September 24, 2018, though June 10, 2019, TriLink classified imported chain saw chains and blades under inappropriate subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. The government further alleged that TriLink’s false classification of the imported chain saw chains and blades during that time period resulted in nonpayment of applicable tariffs due and owing to the United States pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
“False classification of imported goods deprives the United States of tariffs that are due and owing under the law and results in unfair competition against law-abiding companies,” said Timothy Duax, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to hold importers accountable to ensure that they do not avoid payment to the United States.”
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, the Chicago Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated, “This is a prime example of the vigilance of our CBP employees, and our use of a whole of government...
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