Customs Service

The American public relies on the U.S. Customs Service to intercept foreign imports that might harm the health, safety, or economic well-being of the United States. The vast majority of cargo with violations is being allowed to pass into this country, however, and Customs lacks adequate information to assess its effectiveness in collecting applicable duties, penalizing violators of the trade laws, or managing its resources. These problems arise because of a series of interrelated problems with Customs management. While Customs has initiated a wide array of actions to address specific problem areas, GAO believes that several key actions are needed to achieve successful management reform. First, Customs should define a clear trade enforcement strategy that is supported by comprehensive human resources, financial management, and information management planning. Second, Customs should evaluate the adequacy of its current organizational structure to support the new trade enforcement strategy. Third, sustained leadership from the Commissioner and diligent congressional oversight are essential to ensuring long-term success.