Manhattan Export Co. v. United States

40 Cust. Ct. 744
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedMarch 21, 1958
DocketReap. Dec. 9102; Entry No. 798359, etc.
StatusPublished

This text of 40 Cust. Ct. 744 (Manhattan Export Co. 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
Manhattan Export Co. v. United States, 40 Cust. Ct. 744 (cusc 1958).

Opinion

LaweeNge, Judge:

The 16 appeals for a reappraisement enumerated in the schedule, attached to and made part of this decision, were consolidated for trial. They present the question of the proper dutiable value of different models of Rocco radial drills, which had been invoiced at $3,100 for the 42-inch model and at $3,350 for the 48-inch model. Both models were appraised on the basis of foreign value, as that value is defined in section 402 (c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Administrative Act of 1938 (19 U. S. C. § 1402 (c)), at 2,200,000 lire, less 3 per centum, plus 3 per centum tax, plus packing.

It is plaintiffs’ contention that there was no foreign, export, or United States value for such or similar merchandise and that the proper basis of value is cost of .production, which value is represented by the invoice prices.

The defendant asserts that there existed a foreign value for such or similar merchandise; concedes that there was no export value; and, in the alternative, alleges that a United States value existed for such merchandise and, if not, the plaintiffs have failed to establish a statutory cost of production.

Leo Malchin, sole owner of the Manhattan Export Co., appeared as a witness on behalf of plaintiffs. He stated his business to be- the buying of machines in Italy and representing certain Italian manufacturers, particularly Rocco, which latter concern dealt in Rocco radial drills. He stated that he visited Italy every year before and since 1950 and that the drills were made to order in small factories. He did not know of any jobbers in Italy who bought these machines and added that he was the exclusive agent in the United States during 1952 and 1953 (the years during which the present importations were made) for the sale of the Rocco radial drills.

Malchin stated that he did not stock these machines but only purchased them after he had received a firm order. His sales in the United States were to factory representatives, salesmen who visit factories and induce the owners to buy particular machines.' He never sold direct to the factory.

Malchin testified further that Rocco drills are different from any other drills made either in Europe or in the United States, although their function is the same. They differ as to construction, prices, and quality. In explanation of the difference between the drills manufactured by Rocco and other drills the witness had seen in Italy and in other countries through which he had traveled, he compared it to the difference between a Chevrolet and a Cadillac, stating that the Rocco drills would be like the Chevrolet, a low-priced drill which gave good performance.

[746]*746It was Malchin’s testimony that the two models of drills in issue are models which Rocco, the manufacturer, sells in the United States through Manhattan Export Co., its agent in this country, and in France, Belgium, and-other countries through different representatives. Sales of these machines were also made in Italy.

There was received in evidence as plaintiffs’ exhibit 1,-an affidavit of Dante Conti of Officina Meccanica di S. Rocco of Milan, Italy, relating to the cost of production of radial drills during the period of time covered by the instant importations.

On behalf of defendant, collective exhibit A, an operations memorandum from the American consulate general at Milan, Italy, dated November 13, 1952, together with a report of Thomas D. Bowie, American consul, and pages from a manufacturer’s catalog, was received. In addition, there was received in evidence defendant’s collective exhibit B, which is a report of the Treasury representative at Milan, Italy, dated February 19, 1954, together with accompanying papers.

For the plaintiffs to establish a value for the radial drills in controversy different from that found by the appraiser, it is incumbent upon them not only to overcome the presumption of correctness attaching to the appraiser’s action, but also of sustaining their contention. To the plaintiffs falls the burden of proof. H. S. Dorf & Co., Inc., a./c. Joseph H. Meyer Bros. v. United States, 41 C. C. P. A. (Customs) 183, C. A. D. 548.

It is the first determination of the court to find whether or not there existed a foreign value of the imported articles at or about the time of exportation.

Section 402 (c), supra, reads as follows—

The foreign value of imported merchandise shall be the market value or the price at the time of exportation of such merchandise to the United States) at which such or similar merchandise is freely offered for sale for home consumption to all purchasers in the principal markets of the country from which exported, in the usual wholesale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade, including the cost of all containers and -coverings of whatever nature, and all other costs, charges, and expenses incident to placing the merchandise in condition, packed ready for shipment to the United States.

In the affidavit of Dante Conti, which was subscribed and sworn to on October 8, 1954, in evidence as plaintiffs’ exhibit 1, there is contained the statement that—

* * * during the years 952 [1952], 1953 and 1954 Rocco Radial Drills such as or similar to the Rocco Radial Drills exported to Manhattan Export Company in the United States were not freely offered for sale for home consumption to all purchasers in the principal markets of Italy; that the sale and offers for sale of such or similar drills were limieted [sic] to machine shops and manufacturers for use on their own premises; that no sales or offers for sale Were made in the ordinary course of trade to dealers, jobbers or anyone buyng [sic] for resale; that all sales and deliveries were made by the said concern directly to the said machine shops [747]*747and manufacturers; that said firm also employed exclusive selling agents for the various provinces of Italy; * * *.

If the foregoing were the only evidence on foreign value before the court, it would evidently preclude the finding of such a value. However, in defendant’s collective exhibit A, there is a report of an investigation made by Giovanni B. Scandelli under the supervision of Consul Thomas D. Bowie, Milan, Italy, reporting on interviews had with Dante Conti, manager and owner of Officina Meccanica di S. Rocco. Under the heading of “FobeigN Value,” there appears the following—

Such and Similar Merchandise
Merchandise identical to that exported to the United States is freely offered for sale for home consumption in Italy and for exportation to the United States to all classifications of customers. The manufacturer has no agents or representatives in Italy and sells the machines he manufactures to all possible customers. Restriciion of Resale
There are no restrictions of any sort imposed by the manufacturer on the resale of the merchandise. Only very recently the manufacturer informed all his domestic customers that radial drills TR/1 and TB/2 could not be exported to'the United States because he had granted to Manhattan Export Corporation the exclusive sales rights.
Combined Price Agreement
Officina Meccanica S. Rocco does not fix any established resale prices for its customers.

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Related

§ 1402
19 U.S.C. § 1402(c)

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40 Cust. Ct. 744, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/manhattan-export-co-v-united-states-cusc-1958.