California Companies Affiliated with Chinese Billionaire “Uncle Liu” Found Guilty of Fraudulent Scheme to Dodge U.S. Customs Duties on Aluminum Imports, Ordered to Pay $1.8B in Restitution

Extruded aluminum imports fraudulently misclassified as warehouse pallets to evade anti-dumping and countervailing (AC/CVD) duties

Linde AG used incorrect Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes and failed to declare “assists” on steel products imported from China

Centric Parts of California evaded 2.5% tariff by misclassifying “mounted” brake pads as “unmounted.”

Former employee blows the whistle, receives reward

Downstream wholesaler allegedly turned a blind eye to suppliers’ import fraud while receiving goods at below-market prices. Whistleblowers reap rewards.