Border Brokerage Co. v. United States

55 Cust. Ct. 748, 1965 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2361
United States Customs Court·Decided July 28, 1965·No. A.R.D. 194; Entry No. 05-1716·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

Ford, Judge:

This is an application for review of the decision and judgment of a single judge sitting in reappraisement and liolding that the appraised value is the proper dutiable value of certain involved merchandise. From the judgment, entered May 25, 1964, reported in 52 Cust. Ct. 567, Reap. Dec. 10759, the importer appeals.

The merchandise herein consisted of various machine parts, exported from Canada to the United States on or about September 20,1961, and was appraised on the basis of export value, as defined in section 402 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs 'Simplification Act of 1956, at a total value of $756, representing unit prices at list. Counsel for both parties agreed at the opening of trial that export value under section 402(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Simplification Act of 1956, was the proper basis of appraisement. Government claims the correct export value is the value at list prices, as appraised, without discount. The importer claims the correct export value to be $756 list, less a 10 percent discount.

The appellant herein, customs broker for the importer, contends that the seller of the merchandise offers a 10 percent discount from the unit prices to all “industrial users” or “contractors” and to those who resell “other than at retail”; that such purchasers are embraced within the definition of “purchasers at wholesale” (section 402(f) (3)) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Simplification Act of 1956, and that prices to such purchasers represent the proper export value of the merchandise.

[749]*749The pertinent portions of section 402 (b) and (f) of the Customs Simplification Act of 1956 are:

SEC. 402. VALUE.
* * ::■: * * $ V
(b) Export Value. — Ear the purposes of this section, the export value oí imported merchandise .shall ibe the price, at the time oí exportation to the United States of the merchandise -undergoing appraisement, at which 'such or similar merchandise is freely sold or, in the absence of sales, offered for sale in the principal markets of the country of exportation, in the usual wholesale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade, for exportation to the United States, plus, when not included in such price, the cost of all containers and coverings of whatever nature and all other expenses incidental to placing the merchandise in condition, packed ready for shipment to the United States.
(f) Definitions. — Eor the purposes of this section—
(1) The term “freely sold or, in the absence of sales, offered for sale” means sold or, in the absence of sales, offered—
(A) to all purchasers at wholesale, or
without restrictions as to the disposition or use of the merchandise by the purchaser, except restrictions as to such disposition or use which (i) are imposed or required by law, (ii) limit the price at which or the territory in which the merchandise may he resold, or (iii) do not substantially affect the value of the merchandise to usual purchasers at wholesale.
(3) The term “purchasers at wholesale” means purchasers who buy in the usual wholesale quantities for industrial use or for resale otherwise than at retail; or, if there are no such purchasers, then all other purchasers for resale who buy in the usual wholesale quantities; or, if there are no purchasers in either of the foregoing categories, then all other purchasers who buy in the usual wholesale quantities.

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Border Brokerage Co. v. United States, 55 Cust. Ct. 748, 1965 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2361 (cusc 1965).

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