U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Blaine port of entry. (PNW Daily)
BLAINE, Wash. — A CBP mattress seizure in Blaine stopped a shipment of 526 Chinese-made mattresses after officers discovered the goods were dramatically undervalued during a border inspection.
According to CBP, officers inspected a commercial shipment containing 526 mattresses manufactured in China. Import paperwork listed the value of the shipment at just $3,481.
During the inspection, officers determined the shipment’s true value was $618,744.32.
CBP investigators found the importer undervalued the shipment by $587,186.42. Undervaluing imports can help companies avoid paying required duties and tariffs when goods enter the United States.
Because of the discrepancy, CBP officers seized the mattresses and prevented what the agency called a significant loss of federal revenue.
CBP monitoring undervalued imports
CBP officers routinely inspect commercial shipments entering the United States to ensure importers declare accurate values.
The declared value determines the duties, tariffs, and fees owed when goods cross the border. When companies undervalue imports, they reduce taxes owed and gain an unfair advantage over businesses that follow the rules.
The seizure happened at the Blaine port of entry, one of the busiest commercial crossings between Washington and British Columbia.
Federal officials did not release the importer’s identity.
PNW Daily will update this story as news breaks.
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