The PA Chamber has joined with United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT) in launching a new public education initiative designed to provide local officials, law enforcement and thought leaders with information and training programs to help tackle illegal trade.  The initiative also seeks to raise public awareness of the depth of the problem, -as well as the severe consequences inflicted on states and municipalities by black-market profiteers.

The black market is a $509 billion a year business, and it’s growing. Criminals get rich from illegal trade by robbing revenues meant to provide essential services to Americans. Instead of helping taxpayers, that money is used to fund those who illegally traffic in drugs, weapons, and even people. These groups exploit governments and citizens, manipulate financial systems, spur corruption, and cultivate instability and violence that threaten our communities.

Tackling illegal trade requires cooperation and public-private partnerships and fully utilizing existing expertise, information sharing, innovative solutions and evolving technologies. Public actors, the private sector, and civil society alike all have a role to play.

The campaign will run through 2021 across Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas.  All eight states are facing critical trade issues.

For more information about USA-IT’s efforts to combat illegal trade, and to get involved, visit www.USAIT.org.