United States v. Clayton Chemical & Packaging Co.

52 Cust. Ct. 620, 1964 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1387
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedMarch 25, 1964
DocketA.R.D. 169; Entry No. 635, etc.
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 52 Cust. Ct. 620 (United States v. Clayton Chemical & Packaging Co.) 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
United States v. Clayton Chemical & Packaging Co., 52 Cust. Ct. 620, 1964 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1387 (cusc 1964).

Opinion

Foed, Judge:

These are applications for review of the decision of the trial judge sitting in reappraisement, reported in 49 Cust. Ct. 409, Eeap. Dec. 10347. The cases listed in schedule “A,” annexed hereto and made a part hereof, were consolidated for the purpose of trial and represent eight shipments of a photographic developing agent, a coal-tar product, known by the trade name of “Phenidone,” [621]*621which were imported from England during the period between July 1, 1953, and February 10, 1954. The merchandise was appraised on the basis of United States value, as defined in section 402(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Administrative Act of 1938, at values ranging from $15.87 to $24.11 per pound. Counsel for the respective parties are in agreement that the correct basis of value for the merchandise involved is United States value. The dispute arises as to the correct amount or amounts which represent said value.

The record establishes that Phenidone is an ingredient used in photographic developers; that, prior to January 1953, said merchandise had not appeared on the United States market; that appellee company used the imported Phenidone in the manufacture of several of its products and also offered it for sale to anyone wishing to buy.

It further appears from the record that, in June 1953, the appellee company, by arrangement with the English manufacturer and exporter, became the exclusive American importer of Phenidone and that, since the product was new to the market, it was necessary for the appellee to do certain promotional work, including securing publicity, contacting those who might be consumers of the product, and disseminating information concerning its nature and availability; that appellee sent letters to possible users, a copy of which was received as plaintiff’s exhibit 1, which solicited parties to “send your order for a sample quantity of Phenidone * * *”; that, in order to initially attract orders from said parties or firms, appellee company offered Phenidone for sale in quantities as small as 1 ounce.

A list of sales made by appellee company during the period from June 19,1953, to January 27, 1954, was received in evidence as plaintiff’s exhibit 2. This exhibit shows that, of the 49 sales made during that period, 13 were in quantities of 1 ounce, and all but 8 were in quantities of 5 pounds or less. The 49 sales were made to 35 persons or firms. At the time of litigation, appellee caused to be sent to each of such persons or firms affidavits, with certain blank portions to be filled in by the affiant, telling the disposition of the Phenidone purchased by them. The record establishes that 14 affidavits, received in evidence as plaintiff’s exhibits 7 through 20, inclusive, were returned to appellee, 5 persons or firms did not reply, 5 could not be located, 3 replied by letter instead of affidavits, 3 replied by letter, stating they had no record of the disposition of the merchandise, and 3 witnesses testified orally concerning the disposition made of the merchandise by 4 of the remaining 5 parties or firms. Consequently, there is evidence as to the disposition made by 18 of 35 persons or firms who purchased Phenidone from appellee company during the period in question. These 18 persons or firms represent the purchasers in 30 sales. Of these sales, the evidence shows that the Phenidone involved in 15 was. [622]*622wholly used for experimental and testing purposes; in 6, it was used partly for experimental and partly for other purposes; in 1, it was used partly by the purchaser in the preparation of photographic developers for its own use and partly sold to others without change; in 1, it was resold as purchased; and, in 7, it was used by the purchaser for its own purposes. These 7 sales were in quantities of 100 pounds or more at the price of $11.90, claimed by appellee herein to represent the United States selling price of the merchandise. The parties have agreed that 21 cents per pound represents the correct amount for the allowance of cost of transportation, insurance, and other necessary expenses specified in the statute.

The accountant for the importing company testified that, on the basis of the $11.90 selling price, he had computed the general expenses incurred by appellee to be 18.83 per centum.1 The same witness calculated the profit based on the $11.90 selling price as 62 cents.2

The court below concluded that sales in quantities of less than 100 pounds were not made in the ordinary course of trade and, based upon the foregoing and the agreement of the parties that the basis of ap-praisement is United States value, as defined in section 402(e), supra, found said value to be $6,929. The calculation of this value was set forth as follows:

A calculation of the United States value, therefore, proceeds as follows (Cf. United States v. Beer 4 Co., 15 Ct. Cust. Appls. 140, T.D. 42216) :

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Related

Clayton Chemical & Packaging Co. v. United States
64 Cust. Ct. 634 (U.S. Customs Court, 1970)
Clayton Chemical & Packaging Co. v. United States
383 U.S. 821 (Supreme Court, 1965)

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Bluebook (online)
52 Cust. Ct. 620, 1964 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1387, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-clayton-chemical-packaging-co-cusc-1964.