---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 4318"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "4318"
heading: "Commercial risk assessment targeting and trade alerts"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/4318"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement"
  - "Subchapter I — Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement"
---

# §4318. Commercial risk assessment targeting and trade alerts

- (a) **Commercial risk assessment targeting—** In carrying out its duties under [section 211(g)(4) of title 6](/usc/6/211.md?p=g-4), the National Targeting Center, in coordination with the Office of Trade established under [section 2084 of this title](/usc/19/2084.md), as appropriate, shall—
  - (1) establish targeted [risk assessment](/usc/19/2575b.md?p=6) methodologies and [standards](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=5)—
    - (A) for evaluating the risk that cargo destined for the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) may violate the [customs and trade laws of the United States](/usc/19/4301.md?p=4), particularly those laws applicable to merchandise subject to the priority trade issues described in [section 4322 of this title](/usc/19/4322.md); and
    - (B) for issuing, as appropriate, Trade Alerts described in [subsection (b)](#b);
  - (2) to the extent practicable and otherwise authorized by law, use, to administer the methodologies and [standards](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=5) established under [paragraph (1)](#a-1)—
    - (A) publicly available information;
    - (B) information available from the Automated Commercial System, the [Automated Commercial Environment](/usc/19/4301.md?p=1), the Automated Targeting System, the Automated Export System, the International Trade Data System established under [section 1411(d) of this title](/usc/19/1411.md?p=d), the TECS (formerly known as the “Treasury Enforcement Communications System”), the case management system of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and any successor systems; and
    - (C) information made available to the National Targeting Center, including information provided by [private sector entities](/usc/19/4301.md?p=5);
  - (3) provide for the receipt and transmission to the appropriate U.S. Customs and Border Protection offices of allegations from [interested parties](/usc/19/1677.md?p=9) in the private sector of violations of [customs and trade laws of the United States](/usc/19/4301.md?p=4) with respect to merchandise relating to the priority trade issues described in [section 4322 of this title](/usc/19/4322.md); and
  - (4) notify, on a timely basis, each [interested party](/usc/19/1677.md?p=9) in the private sector that has submitted an allegation of any violation of the [customs and trade laws of the United States](/usc/19/4301.md?p=4) of any civil or criminal actions taken by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or any other Federal agency resulting from the allegation.
- (b) **Trade Alerts—**
  - (1) **Issuance—** In carrying out its duties under [section 211(g)(4) of title 6](/usc/6/211.md?p=g-4) and based upon the application of the targeted [risk assessment](/usc/19/2575b.md?p=6) methodologies and [standards](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=5) established under [subsection (a)](#a), the Executive Director of the National Targeting Center may issue Trade Alerts to directors of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) ports of [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) directing further inspection, or physical examination or testing, of specific merchandise to ensure compliance with all applicable [customs and trade laws of the United States](/usc/19/4301.md?p=4) and regulations administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
  - (2) **Determinations not to implement Trade Alerts—** The director of a [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) port of [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) may determine not to conduct further inspections, or physical examination or testing, pursuant to a Trade Alert issued under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) if the director—
    - (A) finds that such a determination is justified by port security interests; and
    - (B) not later than 48 hours after making the determination, notifies the Assistant [Commissioner](/usc/19/4301.md?p=3) of the Office of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the determination and the reasons for the determination.
  - (3) **Summary of determinations not to implement—** The Assistant [Commissioner](/usc/19/4301.md?p=3) of the Office of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall—
    - (A) compile an annual summary of all determinations by directors of [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) ports of [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) under [paragraph (2)](#b-2) and the reasons for those determinations;
    - (B) conduct an evaluation of the utilization of Trade Alerts issued under [paragraph (1)](#b-1); and
    - (C) not later than December 31 of each calendar year, submit the summary to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/19/1683.md?p=1).
  - (4) **Inspection defined—** In this subsection, the term “inspection” means the comprehensive evaluation process used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, other than physical examination or testing, to permit the [entry](/usc/19/1677.md?p=23) of merchandise into the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9), or the clearance of merchandise for transportation in bond through the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9), for purposes of—
    - (A) assessing duties;
    - (B) identifying restricted or prohibited items; and
    - (C) ensuring compliance with all applicable [customs and trade laws of the United States](/usc/19/4301.md?p=4) and regulations administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–125, title I, § 111, Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 139.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 111 of Pub. L. 114–125. Subsec. (c) of section 111 of Pub. L. 114–125 amended section 1415 of this title.