United Merchants, Inc. v. United States

67 Cust. Ct. 413, 337 F. Supp. 452, 1971 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2234
United States Customs Court·Decided December 21, 1971·No. C.D. 4307·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

Rao, Judge:

The merchandise involved in this case consists of panels, a form of curtain, composed in chief value of polyester fabric which was woven from a polyester yarn spun from man-made fibers of polyester.

It was assessed with duty at 2444 Per centum ad valorem plus 25 cents per pound under item 367.60, Tariff Schedules of the United States, as modified, as furnishings of textile materials, not ornamented, of man-made fibers, not knit, nor of pile construction, nor of glass.

It is claimed in the complaint that the imported panels are properly dutiable at 10 per centum ad valorem under item 772.35 of said tariff schedules, as curtains and drapes, including panels, of rubber or plastics, or, in the alternative, at 14 per centum ad valorem under item 367.65, as furnishings of textile materials, not ornamented: Other.

The pertinent provisions of the tariff schedules, as modified, are as follows:

Schedule 3. - Textile FibeRS ajtd Textile Peodttcts
Schedule 3 Headnotes:
H: Hi Hi Hi Hi Ht
2. For the purposes of the tariff schedules—
(a) the term “textile materials” means—
(i) the fibers (cotton, other vegetable fibers, wool and hair, silk, and man-made fibers) provided for in part 1 of this schedule,
(ii) the yarn intermediates and the yarns provided for in part 1 and part 4 (elastic yams) of this schedule,
[415] (iii) the cordage provided for in. part 2 and part 4 (elastic cordage) of this schedule,
(iv) the fabrics provided for in part 3 and part 4 of this schedule,
(v) braids, as defined in headnote 2 (f), m/m, and
(vi) except as provided by headnote 5, articles produced from any of the foregoing products;
PART 1.-Textile Fibees AND Wastes; YarNS AND Threads
# Hi * Hi # Hi
Subpart E. - Man-made fibers
Subpart E headnotes:
**##❖#*
2. (a) For the purposes of the tariff schedules, the term “man-made fibers” refers to the filaments, strips, and fibers covered in this subpart.
$ $ ‡ ‡ $
Part 5. - Textile FurNIShiNGS
*******
Subpart C. - Tapestries, linens, and other furnishings
Subpart C headnote:
1. For the purposes of this subpart, the term “furnishings” means curtains and drapes, including panels and valances; towels, napkins, tablecloths, mats, scarves, runners, doilies, centerpieces, antimacassars, and furniture slipcovers; and like furnishings; all the foregoing, of textile materials, and not specially provided for.
* * * * $
Other furnishings, not ornamented:
Of vegetable fibers:
* * * * * * *
Of wool:
* * * Hi Hi * *
Of silk:
* *
Of man-made fibers:
* * * Knit (except pile or tufted construction) _ * =!= *
* * * Pile or tufted construction_ * * *
Other:
* * * Of glass_
367.60 Other_ 25$ per ]b. + 24.5% ad val.
367.65 Other_ 14% ad val.
[416] Schedule 7. - Specified Products; MISCELLANEOUS AND NoNENumerated Products
$ $ $ $ ‡ # #
Part 12. - Rubber AND Plastics Products
* # $ Hs * * *
Subpart C. - Specified Rubber and Plastics Products
*******
772.35 Curtains and drapes, including panels and valances; napkins, table covers, mats, scarves, runners, doilies, centerpieces, antimacassars, and furniture slipcovers; and like furnishing; all the foregoing of rubber or plastics_ 10% ad val.

This case was submitted on the pleadings, a sample of the merchandise, and the record in R. H. Macy & Co., Inc. v. United States, 57 CCPA 115, C.A.D. 988, 428 F.2d 856 (1970). After briefs were filed, oral argument was permitted at the request of plaintiff.

In the Macy case it was held that curtains and drapes of polyester fabric were classifiable under the textile schedule and not under item 772.35, as curtains and drapes, including panels, of rubber or plastics, on the ground that the latter covered only curtains and drapes in non-woven form such as a sheet form. In the course of the opinion the court stated (p. 118):

The court below concluded from this passage that there was a distinction to be drawn between products of man-made fibers, which were to be classified under the textile schedule even if the fibers were of rubber or plastic, and “other articles of rubber or plastics,” which would be classified under part 12 of schedule 7. The court concluded:
We are inclined to the view that the term “plastic” as employed in part 12 of schedule 7 describes a form as well as a substance, and does not cover plastic materials which have been converted into textile materials.
A yam which was produced from a basic plastic substance has by that process of manufacture taken on the status of a textile material from which a textile product will be produced, and for tariff purposes may no longer be considered a “plastic” but rather a man-made fiber.

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United Merchants, Inc. v. United States, 67 Cust. Ct. 413, 337 F. Supp. 452, 1971 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2234 (cusc 1971).

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