British Cars & Parts, Inc. v. United States

40 Cust. Ct. 736
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedMarch 19, 1958
DocketReap. Dec. 9100; Entry No. 294
StatusPublished

This text of 40 Cust. Ct. 736 (British Cars & Parts, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
British Cars & Parts, Inc. v. United States, 40 Cust. Ct. 736 (cusc 1958).

Opinion

Rao, Judge:

This is an appeal for reappraisement of an importa tion of so-called M. G. Midget “TD” Roadsters, invoiced at $1,256 per automobile, entered at $997.07 each, and appraised at Canadian $1,282.27 each, net.

[737]*737The case has been submitted for decision upon an agreed statement of facts which recites the following:

1. The involved automobiles were manufactured in England and sold to a Canadian firm, and were shipped from England to that firm, who thereupon placed them in storage intending to sell the cars in the Canadian market. Later this intention was changed, and thereupon the Canadian firm sold the cars to the American importer, and shipped them, to the United States.
2. That at no time have “such or similar” automobiles been “freely offered for sale to all purchasers” within the meaning of those words as used in Sections 402 (c) and 402 (d), Tariff Act of 1930, either in England or in Canada, for home consumption or for exportation to the United States, nor have “such or similar” automobiles been “freely offered to all purchasers” within the meaning of Section 402 (e) of said Act; also “such or similar” automobiles within the meaning of those words as found in Section 402 (f) of said Act were not being manufactured in Canada.
3. That the imported automobiles were appraised at Canadian dollars 1,282.27, each, as representing the “cost of production” in Canada ascertained by reference to the fact that the cars had been imported into Canada from England, and were placed in storage with intent to sell them in the Canadian market, and were later sold by the Canadian importer to the American importer, and exported to the United States; or
4. That the “cost of production” of said automobiles in England as ascertained by reference to manufacture in England and subsequent sale thereof, as referred to in Section 402 (f) was English pounds 356 each.
5. That the sole dispute .between the parties is whether the automobile should be valued at Canadian dollars 1,282.27 each or English pounds 356 each. Neither party denies the accuracy of these respective amounts.

By reason of the foregoing stipulation, it is apparent that there was no statutory foreign, export, or United States value for such or similar merchandise, and that cost of production is the only basis of value to be here considered. Cost of production is defined in section 402 (f) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as follows:

(f) Cost of Pbodtjction. — For the purpose of this title the cost of production of imported merchandise shall be the sum of—
(1) The cost of materials of, and of fabrication, manipulation, or other process employed in manufacturing or producing such or similar merchandise, at a time preceding the date of exportation of the particular merchandise under consideration which would ordinarily permit the manufacture or production of the particular merchandise under consideration in the usual course of business;
(2) The usual general expenses (not less than 10 per centum of such cost) in the ease of such or similar merchandise;
(3) The cost of all containers and coverings of whatever nature, and all other costs, charges, and expenses incident to placing the particular merchandise under consideration in condition, packed ready for shipment to the United States; and
[738]*738(4) An addition for profit (not less than 8 per centum of the sum of the amounts found under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision) equal to the profit which ordinarily is added, in the case of merchandise of the same general character as the particular merchandise under consideration, by manufacturers or producers in the country of manufacture or production who are engaged in the production or manufacture of merchandise of the same class or kind.

In the final analysis, the issue in this case is whether the actual cost of production in the country of origin, England, or a constructive cost of production in the country of exportation, Canada, shall be applied in finding a value for the instant importation.

That Canada was, in fact, the country of exportation has been established beyond peradventure of doubt by the stipulation of the parties. It is therein made abundantly clear that the subject automobiles were exported from England into Canada, there becoming commingled with the mass of goods in that country, and, thereafter, exported to the United States from Canada. This state of facts makes applicable the principle of the case of Acker v. United States, 1 Ct. Cust. Appls. 404, T. D. 31481, wherein it was held that the country of exportation is that country from which merchandise destined for ultimate delivery to the United States is shipped. In the instant case, it was not until after the merchandise arrived in Canada that it was intended and destined for shipment to the United States.

If the value of imported merchandise is to be predicated upon conditions which obtain in the country of exportation, any reference to an English cost of production would seem to be completely irrelevant. Plaintiffs contend, however, that inasmuch as such or similar automobiles were not produced in Canada, the cost of materials and/or fabrication employed in manufacturing such or similar merchandise can not be ascertained, and, therefore, it is impossible to apply the first subdivisions of section 402 (f). It is further urged that since the fourth element of statutory cost of production refers to the profit ordinarily added “by manufacturers or producers in the country of manufacture or production,” it is proper to consider cost of production figures in England to determine the value of the instant merchandise. The case of H. J. Heinz Company v. United States, 43 C. C. P. A. (Customs) 128, C. A. D. 619, is cited in support of this position.

Counsel for the defendant contends that since the subject automobiles were, in fact, imported from Canada, their value must be defined in terms of an ascertained, albeit constructive,- cost of production in Canada. It is argued that if the automobiles had been freely offered for sale for home consumption in Canada, or for exportation to the United States from Canada, a Canadian foreign or export value would necessarily apply, and that, therefore, cost of production must likewise rest upon a Canadian foundation.

[739]*739An analysis of the definitions of value set forth in section 402 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, the provisions of which are quoted below,1 reveals that foreign value and export value are made to relate explicitly to the country of exportation, and market conditions prevailing in the country of origin, if it be other than the country of exportation, are of no consequence.

With respect to United States value, the country of exportation is an element to be considered only in the ascertainment of what constitutes prototype merchandise, or the date of exportation. Hence, no consideration of United States value would have the effect of furthering this inquiry.

In spelling out the elements which comprise cost of production, Congress has been somewhat less specific in terms of the country to which they relate.

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Related

Acker v. United States
1 Ct. Cust. 404 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1911)

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Bluebook (online)
40 Cust. Ct. 736, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/british-cars-parts-inc-v-united-states-cusc-1958.