Mitsui Foods, Inc. v. U.S., 88-1427
| Decision Date | 08 February 1989 |
| Docket Number | No. 88-1427,88-1427 |
| Citation | 867 F.2d 1401 |
| Parties | MITSUI FOODS, INC., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The UNITED STATES, Defendant-Appellee. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Federal Circuit |
Herbert E. Harris, II, and Cheryl Ellsworth, of Harris & Berg, Washington, D.C., argued for plaintiff-appellant.
Kenneth N. Wolf, of the Commercial Litigation Branch, Dept. of Justice, New York City, argued for defendant-appellee. With him on the brief were John R. Bolton, Asst. Atty. Gen., David M. Cohen, Director, and Joseph I. Liebman, Attorney in Charge, Intern. Trade Field Office.
Before FRIEDMAN, SMITH and ARCHER, Circuit Judges.
In this classification case, the United States Court of International Trade held that certain canned tuna from Japan, imported into the Customs territory of the United States by Mitsui Foods, Inc. (Mitsui), was properly classified by the United States Customs Service (Customs) as "[t]una * * * [o]ther," under item 112.34, Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS). 1 We affirm.
Three issues are presented on appeal: First, whether the Court of International Trade erred, as a matter of law, by holding that the phrase "United States pack of canned tuna * * * as reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service," as used in item 112.30, TSUS, does not include tuna packed in American Samoa; second, whether the Court of International Trade abused its discretion by denying Mitsui's "Motion for Leave to Amend and Supplement the Complaint"; and, third, whether the Court of International Trade erred by sustaining Customs' classification of Mitsui's canned tuna under item 112.34, TSUS.
Mitsui, the importer of record, imported from Japan and entered into the Customs territory of the United States certain canned tuna, not packed in oil, weighing not more than 15 pounds per can. Upon liquidation, Customs classified the merchandise under item 112.34, TSUS, and assessed it with duty at the rate of 12.5 per centum ad valorem. Subsequently, on December 18, 1984, Mitsui timely protested before Customs this classification and liquidation contending that the imported merchandise was properly classified and liquidated under item 112.30, TSUS, and should be assessed duty at the rate of 6 per centum ad valorem. On November 8, 1985, Customs denied Mitsui's protest.
Mitsui, on June 4, 1986, brought action in the Court of International Trade protesting Customs' classification and liquidation. Mitsui moved for summary judgment and the United States (Government) opposed that motion and cross-moved for summary judgment. In addition, Mitsui moved, pursuant to Rule 15 of the Rules of the United States Court of International Trade, 2 for leave to amend and supplement its complaint for purposes both of adding an additional claim for relief and of alleging an alternative jurisdictional ground.
On March 30, 1988, the Court of International Trade, determining "United States pack" did not include tuna packed in American Samoa, concluded that Mitsui's merchandise was properly classified under item 112.34, TSUS. In making its interpretation, the Court of International Trade analyzed the plain language of item 112.30, TSUS, the interpretation given by Customs, and the statute's legislative history. On the basis of this analysis, the Court of International Trade, both denying Mitsui's motions for summary judgment and to amend and supplement its complaint and granting the Government's motion for summary judgment, sustained Customs' classification of the merchandise under item 112.34, TSUS.
Schedule 1, Part 3, Subpart C, of the Tariff Schedules of the United States provides, in part, the following:
Subpart C--Fish in Airtight Containers
Fish, prepared or preserved in any manner, not in oil, in airtight containers:
* * *
* * *
Tuna [Item 112.30]:
In containers weighing with their contents not over 15 pounds each, and not the product of any insular possession of the United States, for an aggregate quantity entered in any calendar year not to exceed 20% of the United States pack of canned tuna during the immediately preceding calendar year, as reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service. ....... 6% ad val.
Other [Item 112.34] ..... 12.5% ad val.
Mitsui contends that "United States pack," as it appears in item 112.30, TSUS, includes tuna packed in American Samoa. If, as Mitsui argues, "United States pack" includes tuna packed in American Samoa, the tariff rate quota of item 112.30, TSUS, would increase proportionately and Mitsui's merchandise may become eligible to enter the Customs territory of the United States at the lower duty rate of 6 per centum ad valorem under item 112.30, TSUS, rather than at the 12.5 per centum ad valorem duty rate under item 112.34, TSUS.
For the reasons set forth in the Court of International Trade's opinion, which reasoning we adopt as our own, we hold that the phrase "United States pack of canned tuna * * * as reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service," as used in item 112.30, TSUS, does not include tuna packed in American Samoa. Customs' interpretation of this language in item 112.30, TSUS, does not contravene any clearly discernible legislative intent and is "sufficiently reasonable"; therefore, we accord substantial weight to that interpretation. 3 We have considered Mitsui's arguments to the contrary and find them unpersuasive.
Mitsui, in its initial complaint, argued that the National Marine Fisheries Service had understated the United States pack of canned tuna in 1983. Although this contention was made in its initial complaint, Mitsui failed to seek therein specific relief on that basis. Notwithstanding this failure, Mitsui, pursuant to Rule 15(a), in a timely "Motion for Leave to Amend and Supplement the Complaint," sought to add an additional prayer for relief that would "direct the National Marine Fisheries Service to revise its...
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