United States v. International Expediters, Inc.

40 C.C.P.A. 148
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedJanuary 14, 1953
DocketNo. 4739
StatusPublished

This text of 40 C.C.P.A. 148 (United States v. International Expediters, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Customs and Patent Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. International Expediters, Inc., 40 C.C.P.A. 148 (ccpa 1953).

Opinion

Gabeett, Chief Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

This is an appeal taken on behalf of the.Government from the judgment of the Second Division of the United States Customs Court, Reap. Dec. 8105, 26 Cust. Ct. 552, affirming that of the single judge in a reappraisement proceeding.

The merchandise was imported from England by International Expediters, Inc., and entered at the port of New York City in April, [149]*1491947. It was imported for Winsor & Newton', Inc., of New York City. It appears that Winsor & Newton, Ltd., of Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex, England, was. tbe exporter.

Tbe merchandise was referred to in- some of tbe official papers as “Artists’ colors in tubes.” It consists of colored materials used by 'artists in painting pictures and is one of many items of artists’ supplies included in tbe shipment witb wbicb it came. It is identified in a stipulation on wbicb tbe case was submitted for trial as being “described in tbe invoice as ‘Studio Tube Series 2.’ ”

Tbe stipulation upon wbicb tbe controversy was submitted to tbe court reads:

1. That the merchandise the subject of this appeal consists of artists’ colors imported by Winsor & Newton, Inc., the purchaser and ultimate consignee, from Winsor & Newton, Ltd., of Wealdstone, Middlesex, England, manufacturers and sellers thereof, that it is described in the invoice as “Studio Tube Series 2”, that it was invoiced and entered at 39 shillings per dozen tubes, the list price less a discount of 40 per cent plus the cost of cases (packing and woodwork) and was appraised at the said list price less a discount of 33}á per cent plus the cost of cases (packing and woodwork) on the basis of cost of production under Sec. 402 (f), Tariff Act of 1930.
2. That on or about March 18, 1947, the date of exportation herein and at all other times material herein such or similar merchandise was not freely offered for sale to all purchasers in the principal markets of the country of exportation in the usual wholesale quantities, and in the ordinary course of trade for home consumption therein or for export to the United States and other parts of the world; that such or similar imported merchandise was not at the aforesaid times and under the aforesaid conditions freely offered in the United States for sale for domestic consumption therein; and that cost of production, as defined in Sec. 402 (f) Tariff Act of 1930, is the proper basis of appraisement of the involved merchandise.
3. That throughout the entire year 1947 and at all other times material herein the said Winsor & Newton, Ltd., sold merchandise such or similar to the involved merchandise in wholesale quantities for home consumption in the country of exportation and for export to the United States and other parts of the world; and that of the total quantity so sold 42 per cent was sold for home consumption in the country of exportation, 47 per cent for export to countries other than the United States and 11 per cent for export to the United States.
4. That of the total quantity so sold for home consumption in the country of exportation 31 per cent was sold at the list price less wholesalers’ discount of 40 per cent plus packing, at which price the merchandise herein was entered, and 69 per cent was sold at the list price less retailers’ discount of 33% per cent plus packing at which price the merchandise herein was appraised; that of the total quantity so sold for export to countries other than the United States 92 per cent was sold at the said entered price and 8 per cent at the said appraised price and that the entire quantity so sold for export to the United States was sold at the said entered price.
6. That of the total individual sales of the said merchandise for home consumption in the country of exportation 35 per cent was sold at the said entered price and 65 per cent at the said appraised price; that of the total individual sales of the said merchandise for countries other than the United States 58 per cent was sold at the said entered price and 42 per cent at the said appraised price; and that all [150]*150sales of said merchandise for export to the United States were made at the said entered price.
6. That of the total quantity of the said merchandise so sold for home consumption in the country of exportation and for export to countries other than the United States and for export to the United States, 67 per cent was so sold at the said entered price and 33 per cent at the said appraised price; and that of the total individual sales in all of said markets 37 per cent was sold at the said entered price and 63 per cent at the said appraised price.
7. That during the entire year 1947 and at all other times material herein both the entered price and the appraised price of the involved merchandise were made up of (a) the cost of materials, labor and all other manufacturing costs as of the time prescribed by Sec. 402 (f) (1) Tariff Act of 1930, (b) the usual general expenses (not less than 10 per cent of such cost), (c) 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, and (d) an addition for profit not less than 8 per cent of the sum of items (a) and (b) above; and that the said addition for profit in the entered price is equal to the amount ordinarily added for profit in the case of merchandise of the same general character as the involved merchandise, by manufacturers in the country of exportation who were engaged in the manufacture of merchandise of the same class or kind, in their sales at list prices less wholesalers' discounts, and that the said addition for profit in the appraised price is equal to the amount ordinarily added for profit in the case of merchandise of the same general character as the involved merchandise, by manufacturers in the country of exportation who were engaged in the manufacture of merchandise of the same class or kind, in their sales at list prices less retailers’ discounts.
8. That at all times material herein the facts relative to the business of such manufacturers other than Winsor & Newton, Ltd., were the same in all material respects as those in the case of Winsor & Newton, Ltd., the manufacturer and seller herein.

It is agreed that, upon the facts of this case, the dutiable value of the merchandise must be determined on the basis of cost of production as that cost is defined in section 402 (f) of the Tariff Act of 1930, which reads:

(f) Cost of Production — For the purpose of this subtitle 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 case of such or similar merchandise;

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Related

Alfred Dunhill of London, Inc. v. United States
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Bluebook (online)
40 C.C.P.A. 148, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-international-expediters-inc-ccpa-1953.