Case Information
*1 Slip Op. 16-114
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
____________________________________
:
SPECIALTY COMMODITIES INC., :
:
Plaintiff, :
: Before: Richard K. Eaton, Judge v. :
: Court No. 11-00091 UNITED STATES, :
:
Defendant. : :
OPINION
[Determining the tariff classification for edible seeds of the Pinus koraiensis .] Dated: December 2, 2016 J. Christopher Jensen , Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, P.C., of New York, NY, argued for plaintiff. With him on the brief were Clarence J. Erickson and Sara J. Herchenroder .
Monica P. Triana , Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, of New York, NY, argued for defendant. With her on the brief were Benjamin C. Mizer , Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Amy M. Rubin , Assistant Director, International Trade Field Office. Of counsel on the brief was Sheryl A. French , Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, International Trade Litigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection of New York, NY.
EATON, Judge: At issue is the proper classification of Specialty Commodities Inc.’s (“plaintiff”) merchandise, the seeds of the Pinus koraiensis tree. Before the court is plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and the cross-motion for summary judgment of the United States on behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“the Government” or “defendant”). See Mem. of Law in Supp. of Pl.’s Mot. for Summ. J. (ECF Dkt. No. 39) (“Pl.’s Br.”); Def.’s Mem. of Law in Opp’n to Pl.’s Mot. for Summ. J. & in Supp. of Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. (ECF Dkt. No. 44) (“Def.’s Br.”). Plaintiff challenges Customs’ classification of its entries of seeds of the Pinus koraiensis tree under subheading 0802.90.97 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”), providing for classification of “Other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled: Other: Other: Shelled : Other .” Pl.’s Br. 3; HTSUS 0802.90.97 (2009) (emphasis added). Plaintiff asserts Customs misclassified the seeds because they are properly classified under HTSUS subheading 0802.90.25, which provides for classification of “Other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled: Other: Pignolia : Shelled. ” Pl.’s Br. 3; HTSUS 0802.90.25 (emphasis added). Plaintiff seeks a reliquidation of the merchandise under HTSUS 0802.90.25 and a refund with interest for overpayments of duties. Pl.’s Br. 1. The Government maintains that its classification was correct, and the seeds are properly classifiable under HTSUS 0802.90.97.
The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a) (2006). For the reasons discussed below, plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is denied and defendant’s cross- motion for summary judgment is granted. The court finds that the proper classification for the seeds is HTSUS 0802.90.97.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff is a U.S. importer of raw, shelled pine nuts, the edible seeds of the Pinus koraiensis , a pine tree indigenous to northeast Asia. Joint Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 1–6 (ECF Dkt. No. 33) (“Statement of Facts”). The seeds are processed in, and exported from, China. Statement of Facts ¶ 4 . On June 28, 2009, and July 12, 2009, the subject merchandise entered the United States through the Port of Minneapolis as entry numbers BHV-0004055-6 and BHV-0004113-3. Statement of Facts ¶¶ 3, 9. Upon entry, the merchandise was described on plaintiff’s entry documents as “Chinese Pinenut Kernels” and classified by plaintiff under HTSUS 0802.90.25 (i.e., “Other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled: Other: Pignolia: Shelled.”), subject to a $0.01 per kilogram duty rate. Statement of Facts ¶¶ 4, 7, 8.
On August 19, 2009, Customs rejected plaintiff’s claimed classification. Customs’ rejection relied on Explanatory Note 08.02, which reads: “[t]he principal nuts of this heading are almonds (sweet or bitter), hazelnuts or filberts, walnuts, chestnuts ( Castanea spp. ), pistachios, pecans and pignolia nuts (seeds of the Pinus pinea ).” Statement of Facts ¶ 9; See Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized Commodity Description & Coding Sys., 08.02 (1st ed. 1986) (“Explanatory Note”), Def.’s Br. Ex. A, at 9 (ECF Dkt. No. 44-1). Based on this Explanatory Note, and because plaintiff’s invoices stated the nuts were “Chinese Pinenut Kernels,” Customs concluded the merchandise did not fit within HTSUS 0802.90.25. Statement of Facts ¶ 9. Specifically, Customs found that “the explanatory notes define pignolia as Pinus pinea [and plaintiff’s] invoice doesn’t indicate this information.” Statement of Facts ¶ 9. Customs determined the merchandise was properly classified under HTSUS 0802.90.97, a basket provision that carries a $0.05 per kilogram duty rate. Statement of Facts ¶¶ 13, 15; see HTSUS 0802.90.97. Thus, for Customs, only seeds of the Pinus pinea tree are properly classified under HTSUS subheading 0802.90.25. See Statement of Facts ¶ 9. Customs therefore concluded that seeds produced by the Pinus koraiensis species are properly classifiable as “Other” under HTSUS subheading 0802.90.97. Statement of Facts ¶ 15. As a result, the entries were liquidated under HTSUS subheading 0802.90.97 on October 30, 2009. Statement of Facts ¶ 15.
On April 22, 2010, plaintiff timely protested Customs’ liquidation of the seeds. Statement of Facts ¶ 17. In its protest, plaintiff insisted that they were properly classified as “Pignolia.” Statement of Facts ¶ 17. On October 15, 2010, Customs denied the protest in Headquarters Ruling Letter HQ H114758, concluding the seeds were properly classified under the basket provision, HTSUS 0802.90.97. Statement of Facts ¶ 19 & Ex. B (ECF Dkt. No. 33-2) (“Headquarters Ruling Letter HQ H114758”). This lawsuit followed.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute
as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” USCIT
R. 56(a);
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.
,
This court employs a two-step analysis when reviewing Customs’ classification
determinations. First, it must ascertain “the proper meaning of the tariff provisions,” a question
of law reviewed de novo, and second, determine “whether merchandise falls within a particular
heading,” a question of fact reviewed for clear error.
LeMans Corp. v. United States
, 660 F.3d
1311, 1315 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing
Cummins Inc. v. United States
,
As for agency deference, “[o]n questions of law, a classification decision of Customs
may be accorded a ‘respect proportional to its “power to persuade.”’”
Lerner N.Y., Inc. v. United
States
,
In addition, while the plaintiff “has the burden of establishing that the [G]overnment’s
classification is wrong,” the court must determine whether Customs’ “classification is correct,
both independently and in comparison with the importer’s alternative.”
G.G. Marck & Assocs.,
Inc. v. United States
, No. 08-00306, slip op. 15-62, at *8 (CIT June 17, 2015) (quoting
Jarvis
Clark Co. v. United States
,
DISCUSSION
I. L EGAL F RAMEWORK
The tariff classification of imported merchandise is governed by the “General Rules of
Interpretation” (“GRI”) and the “Additional United States Rules of Interpretation” (“ARI”),
which are applied in numerical order.
R.T. Foods, Inc. v. United States
,
“The HTSUS is organized by headings and each of these headings has one or more
subheadings.”
Deckers Outdoor Corp. v. United States
,
“Tariff acts are construed to carry out the intent of Congress, which is initially
determined by looking at the language of the statute itself.”
Lerner
,
“[T]he Explanatory Notes are regularly used by this Court to determine the intent of the
drafters with respect to the provisions of the HTSUS.”
Streetsurfing LLC v. United States
, 38
CIT __, __,
II. S UMMARY J UDGMENT IS A PPROPRIATE
As noted, summary judgment is appropriate in a Customs classification case when “there
is no factual dispute regarding what the merchandise is.”
Sony Elecs., Inc. v. United States
, No.
09-00043, slip op. 13-153, at *6 (CIT Dec. 23, 2013) (citing
Faus Grp., Inc. v. United States
,
Here, the parties agree that the subject merchandise is seeds of the
Pinus koraiensis.
Statement of Facts ¶ 5. Because “there is no factual dispute regarding what the merchandise is,”
Sony Elecs.
, slip op. 13-153, at *5, the remaining question is “the proper meaning of . . . the
relevant tariff provision[],” which is a legal question, reviewed de novo, and appropriate for
summary judgment.
Id.
;
see EOS of N. Am., Inc. v. United States
,
The parties also agree that the subject merchandise is properly classified under the HTSUS subheading 0802.90 (“Other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled: Other.”). Def.’s Br. 6; see Pl.’s Br. 1. This subheading, however, is further divided into other subheadings at the eight-digit level: “Pignolia” and “Other.” HTSUS 0802.90. Therefore, the dispute involves whether the subject merchandise, seeds of the Pinus koraiensis tree, is properly classified under the “Pignolia” subheading or the basket provision “Other.” HTSUS 0802.90.25 (“Pignolia”); HTSUS 0802.90.97 (“Other”).
III . P LAINTIFF H AS F AILED TO D EMONSTRATE T HAT THE
M EANING OF P IGNOLIA I NCLUDES S EEDS OF THE
P INUS K ORAIENSIS
A. Lexicographic, Dictionary, and Industry Sources
If the HTSUS does not define a term, it is “construed according to [its] common and
commercial meanings, which are presumed to be the same.”
Carl Zeiss
,
Plaintiff contends that all pine nuts, including the seeds of the Pinus koraiensis , are commonly known as pignolia nuts. Pl.’s Br. 6. Specialty Commodities supports its claim by citing several dictionary definitions. See Pl.’s Br. 6–7; Decl. of J. Christopher Jensen in Supp. of Pl.’s Mot. for Summ. J. (ECF Dkt. No. 34) (“Jensen Decl.”); Jensen Decl. Ex. A (ECF Dkt. No. 34-1) (dictionary definitions). Plaintiff points to: (1) Webster’s Third New International Dictionary , which defines “pignolia” as “the edible seed of the nut pine”; (2) Random House Unabridged Dictionary , which provides “pine nut 1. Also, pignolia. the seed of any of several pine trees, as the piñon, eaten roasted or salted or used in making [food]”; (3) Merriam-Webster , states “Definition of PIGNOLI : PINE NUT”; (4) Oxford Dictionaries , stating “pignoli[,] [d]efinition of pignoli in English: plural noun Pine nuts”; and (5) Webster’s New World College Dictionary which defines pignolia as “the edible seed of any various nut pines also pignoli .” Jensen Decl. Ex. A (emphasis added). According to plaintiff, these definitions “support[ its] position that the term refers to all pine nuts, regardless of species.” Pl.’s Br. 7.
Moreover, plaintiff seeks to demonstrate that the word pignolia has the same meaning when used in commerce “within the nut industry.” Pl.’s Br. 7. First, plaintiff relies on an August 2004 article Pine Nuts (Pignolia): Species, Products, Markets and Potential for U.S. Production . Pl.’s Br. 7. This article, written by an Associate Director at the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry and his Research Assistant, describes the international pine nut market. Jensen Decl. Ex. B (ECF Dkt. No. 34-2) (Leonid Sharashkin & Michael Gold, Pine Nuts (Pignolia): Species, Products, Markets and Potential for U.S. Production , N. Nut Growers Ass’n 95th Annual Report (Aug. 2004)) (“Jensen Decl. Ex. B (Sharashkin & Gold)”). Plaintiff argues that “[t]hroughout this published work, the authors do not distinguish between pine nuts derived from the species Pinus pinea and those from other species,” but rather the article uses “pine nuts” interchangeably with “pignolia.” See Pl.’s Br. 7–8. Further, according to plaintiff, the authors address the interchangeability of pignolia nuts and pine nuts when they state “‘that consumers are usually not sophisticated enough to distinguish between nuts of different species, therefore the nuts are usually lumped together in the commerce and referred to as ‘pine nuts’, pinyon nuts, pignolia, etc.’” Pl.’s Br. 8 (quoting Jensen Decl. Ex. B (Sharashkin & Gold)).
Plaintiff also cites two publications presented at a 1993 U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Symposium entitled Managing Piñon-Juniper Ecosystems for Sustainability and Social Needs . Pl.’s Br. 8. The first article, Pine Nuts (Pinus) Imported Into the United States , written by Elbert L. Little, Jr., a retired dendrologist for the USDA Forest Service, discusses United States pine nut imports. Jensen Decl. Ex. C (ECF Dkt. No. 34-3) (Elbert L. Little, Pine Nuts (Pinus) Imported Into the United States ) (“Jensen Decl. Ex. C (Little)”). According to plaintiff, this article uses the words pignolia and pine nuts interchangeably, and explains that all pine nut imports are referred to as pignolia by the U.S. Census Bureau data. Pl.’s Br. 8; Jensen Decl. Ex. C (Little) (“The term pignolia has been used throughout for all pine nuts imported, and scientific names have not been cited.”).
Plaintiff further asserts that another article presented at the USDA symposium, U.S. Market for Imported Pignoli Nuts , uses pine nuts and pignolia nuts interchangeably. Jensen Decl. Ex. C. (Steven Delco et al., U.S. Market for Imported Pignoli Nuts ) (“Jensen Decl. Ex. C (Delco et al.)”). This article states “[t]he major suppliers to the U.S. during [1989–1992] were China, Portugal, Hong Kong, and Spain. China has maintained a dominate position in supplying Pignoli nuts to the U.S. market . . . .” Jensen Decl. Ex. C (Delco et al.). Additionally, this article contains graphs and figures that, rather than referring to pine nuts generally, are labeled “US Pignoli Nut Imports (in Pounds)” and “Major Pignoli Nut Suppliers to US Market,” and reflect imports of Chinese pine nuts. Jensen Decl. Ex. C. (Delco et al.).
In addition to the USDA symposium articles, plaintiff points to U.S. Census Bureau data reflecting imports of “pignolia nuts” from various countries. Pl.’s Reply Mem. in Further Supp. of Pl.’s Mot. for Summ. J and in Opp. to Def.’s Cross-Mot. for Summ. J. 6 (ECF Dkt. No. 47) (“Pl.’s Reply Br.”), Ex. B. (ECF Dkt. No. 47-2) (U.S. General Imps., Commodity by Country (Dep’t of Commerce Dec. 1978)) (“Pl.’s Reply Br. Ex. B. (U.S. Census Bureau Data)”). The U.S. Census Bureau’s chart, under the heading 0577840 “PIGNOLIA NUTS, SHELLED OR NOT SHELLED, BLANCHED OR OTHERWISE PREPARED OR PRESERVED,” reflects Spain, Portugal, Iran, China, and “OTH CTY” as the “Countr[ies] of Origin” for these imports. Pl.’s Reply Br. Ex. B. (U.S. Census Bureau Data). From this, plaintiff concludes “that pignolia nuts have historically been imported into the United States from these and other countries,” and are “[c]learly . . . not limited to the Pinus pinea species.” Pl.’s Reply Br. 6.
Plaintiff further points to websites to support its claim that under both their common and commercial meaning, all pine nuts are pignolia nuts. See Pl.’s Br. 9–10. For example, the USDA’s website and wholesalepinenuts.com use pignolia and pine nuts interchangeably, and even go as far as stating they are the same. See Pl.’s Br. 9–10. Specifically, the USDA website posted an article stating: “[t]he many varieties of these pine seeds come under the broad name, ‘pignolias.’” Bernice K. McGeary & Malcolm E. Smith, Nuts, a Shell Game that Pays Off in Good Eating , http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/CAIN709013222/PDF. In addition, wholesalepinenuts.com states that “Shelled Pinoli and Shelled Pignoli are just another name for our shelled pine nuts and no shell pine nuts.” Wholesalepinenuts.com , http://www.wholesalepinenuts.com/american-nevada-shelled-pinyon-pine-nuts-no-shell- sale.html (last visited Nov. 9, 2016). These sources, plaintiff maintains, clearly equate pignolia with pine nuts. See Pl.’s Br. 9–10.
In response, the Government first notes that none of the dictionary definitions offered by plaintiff specifically include its product, seeds of the Pinus koraiensis —the seeds at issue here. Def.’s Br. 12. To the contrary, defendant argues, the definitions supplied by plaintiff, when read in conjunction with the sources it cites, simply indicate that all pignolia are pine nuts, but not necessarily that all pine nuts are pignolia. Def.’s Br. 11. In other words, the Government agrees that plaintiff’s definitions are “accurate statement[s], as ‘pignolia’ is a type of pine nut; however, this does not support plaintiff’s contention that ‘pignolia’ covers all species of pine nuts.” Def.’s Br. 12.
To make its case, the Government counters with lexicographic and other sources of its own that define “pignolia” more narrowly. Def.’s Br. 8–9. The Government points to Encyclopedia Britannica , The Columbia Encyclopedia , Cambridge World History of Food , and Oxford English Dictionary to support its argument that the definition of pignolia is not equivalent to pine nut. Def.’s Br. Exs. C–F (ECF Dkt. No. 44-1). The sources offered by the Government define pignolia as either the seeds of the Pinus pinea , and no other type of pine tree, or as the seeds of only a few particular types of pine trees, but notably not the Pinus koraiensis . Specifically, Encyclopedia Britannica , in its definition of “pinenut,” states:
The pinenuts are seeds of a considerable number of species [native] to remote and often more or less arid parts of the earth . . . nuts are borne in the axils of the cone scales. The stone pine [of] Europe and Asia, the pinyon pines of North America, and [the] Araucarian pine of the Andean region of South America are most important. With the exception of the Italian stone pine seeds of which are sold as “pignolia” and exported , pinenuts [are] largely consumed in the general regions where they are prod[uced].
Def.’s Br. Ex. C (Encyclopedia Britannica) (emphasis added). The Columbia Encyclopedia provides:
Pine nuts, or Indian nuts, were an important food for some early Native Americans and are still harvested in quantity both for food and for trading. They are picked from the ground, taken from squirrel caches, or extracted by hand from the cones. Some pine stands are in danger of depletion because insufficient seeds are left for reproduction. Pignolia nuts are the seeds of P. pinea of S Europe, where they are cultivated and much used for food .
Def.’s Br. Ex. E. (The Columbia Encyclopedia) (emphasis added). The Cambridge World History of Food states:
Also called pignoli, pignolia, pignons, piñon nuts, and Indian nuts, these ivory- toned seeds come from the pinecones of several trees of the genus Pinus and rank alongside macadamias and pistachios as the most expensive nuts on the market. The European term for pine nuts is pignolia, indicating that they come from the Italian stone pine, which grows in Italy, Iberia, and North Africa .
Def.’s Br. Ex. F. (Cambridge World History of Food) (emphasis added). The Oxford English Dictionary defines “pignolia” as “[t]he edible seed of the cones of certain pines, esp. the stone pine, Pinus pinea , of southern Europe; a pine nut.” Def.’s Br. Ex. D. (Oxford English Dictionary).
As to the industry sources offered by plaintiff, the Government counters that plaintiff overemphasizes the purported interchangeability of “pignolia” and “pine nut” in these articles. Def.’s Br. 12. With regard to the publications presented at the USDA symposium, the Government asserts that “even if Pinus koraiensis were viewed by a governmental agency as ‘pignolia’ in the past,” this “does not mean that any such determination was made by Customs, or that it was correct.” Def.’s Br. 14. Further, according to defendant, nothing in the record indicated: (1) that the pine nuts discussed during the symposium were “imported from China, . . . produced in or indigenous to China,” (2) that “the data was pulled only from product[s] classified as ‘pignolia’ under 0802.90.25, HTSUS, ” or (3) “that the product being imported was Pinus koraiensis .” Def.’s Br. 13–14. Therefore, for the Government, because it is unclear what types of nuts were referenced in the USDA articles, plaintiff cannot say these articles demonstrate that all pine nuts, including seeds of the Pinus koraiensis , are also referred to as pignolia nuts.
Respecting the reference to the Sharashkin and Gold article from the University of Missouri, the Government asserts “pignolia” is only referenced once, and is simply used in passing to discuss unsophisticated consumers. Def.’s Br. 12 (“The term ‘pignolia’ appears in the text of the article exactly one time. Contrary to plaintiff’s assertion, the article uses the generic term ‘pine nut’ throughout; that is, the article discusses various pine nuts and their markets as well as pine nut production.” (emphasis in original)). The Government further argues that the most the article might be cited for, is that consumers may confuse the various seeds—not that it establishes plaintiff’s product is commonly and commercially known as pignolia. Def.’s Br. 12. That is, for defendant, the article does not demonstrate that pignolia has an established common or commercial meaning encompassing all pine nuts. See Def.’s Br. 12.
The Government offers its own industry sources, which it claims demonstrate that Pinus koraiensis is not commonly or commercially included within the meaning of pignolia. Def.’s Br. 9–10. For example, The Book of Edible Nuts states “the most common designation for the [pine] nuts in Europe is ‘pignolia,’ a term which refers to pine nuts of the Italian stone pine, Pinus pinea , grown for the most part in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and North Africa.” Def.’s Br. Ex. G (Frederic Rosengarten, Jr., The Book of Edible Nuts 309 (1984)) (“Def.’s Br. Ex. G (Rosengarten)”). Additionally, “in the United States nut trade, ‘pine nuts’ may refer to the European pignolia, the North American piñon or the Chinese pine nut.” Id. at 311. The source further provides that Pinus koraiensis has in recent years become “a commercially competitive nut,” but is “[c]heaper than the more delicate European pignolias.” Id. at 315; Def.’s Br. 10.
Defendant also points to The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion which describes “pine nut” as a seed
from several varieties of pine trees. . . . Pine nuts grow in China, Italy, Mexico, North Africa and the southwestern United States. There are two main varieties. Both have a thin shell with an ivory-colored nutmeat that averages about ½ inch in length. The Mediterranean or Italian Pine Nut is from the stone pine [ i.e. pignolia]. It’s torpedo-shaped, has a light, delicate flavor and is the more expensive of the two. The stronger-flavored Chinese pine nut is shaped like a squat triangle. Its pungent pine flavor can easily overpower some foods.
Def.’s Br. Ex. H (The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion); Def.’s Br. 10. For Customs, these sources support its contention that all species of pine nuts are not pignolia nuts.
The court finds that the various definitions and industry sources offered fail to establish
that seeds of the
Pinus koraiensis
necessarily are included within the common or commercial
meanings of pignolia.
See
Pl.’s Br. 8–10; Def.’s Br. 8–11. While plaintiff’s dictionary
definitions do tend to indicate that the word pignolia does encompass pine nuts other than the
seeds of the
Pinus pinea
, Customs’ sources do not. Specifically, plaintiff’s sources define
pignolia generally, as “the seed of any several pine trees,” whereas Customs’ sources provide
that “[p]ignolia nuts are the seeds of
P. pinea
of S Europe.” Jensen Decl. Ex. A; Def.’s Br. Exs.
C–F. Importantly, no cited source equates pignolia with plaintiff’s actual product, the seeds of
the
Pinus koraiensis
.
See Sigma-Tau Healthscience, Inc. v. United States
, No. 16-1125, at *11
(Fed. Cir. Sept. 26, 2016) (“Whether a [good] is commonly referred to as [a term provided in the
HTSUS] may be pertinent, but only if there is a consensus as to the use of that terminology.”);
see also Deckers Outdoor Corp.
,
In like manner, the sources cited fail to establish that the commercial meaning of pignolia includes seeds of the Pinus koraiensis . Plaintiff first cites an article from the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry stating that consumers cannot “distinguish between nuts of different species,” and as a result “the nuts are usually lumped together in the commerce and referred to as ‘pine nuts’, pinyon nuts, pignolia, etc.” Jensen Decl. Ex. B. (Sharashkin & Gold). This article, however, fails to cite any support for this assertion. To the court, the article’s unsupported assertions are not helpful in determining pignolia’s commercial meaning.
The court also finds the USDA symposium articles [6] and U.S. Census Bureau data, which plaintiff asserts use pignolia and pine nuts interchangeably, do not clarify the common and commercial meaning of pignolia. Notably, Little’s USDA article acknowledges that scientific names have not been cited, however, the classification based on scientific names is the precise issue before the court. In addition, the court notes that the Delco et al. article shows that Chinese pine nuts were imported during 1988 to 1992, however, it also provides that “[t]here are regional varieties of the pine nut throughout the world” and that “the Spanish and Italian pine nut [are] a different variety from the Chinese nut.” Jensen Decl. Ex. C (Delco et al.).
The U.S. Census Bureau data presented by plaintiff, reflecting imports from foreign countries of pine nuts as pignolia nuts, is also not persuasive in establishing the common and commercial meaning. [7] This is because the data collected reflected how importers had self- classified their entries, not the conscious decisions of Customs. Thus, the U.S. Census Bureau data does not reflect a decision on the part of Customs to classify all pine nuts as “Pignolia,” but rather represents actions made “expeditiously and without examination or Customs officer review” to accept importers proposed tariff provision. See Motorola, Inc. v. United States , 436 F.3d 1357, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). That is, all the U.S. Census Bureau data . . .
0577840 PIGNOLIA NUTS, SHELLED OR NOT SHELLED . . . SPAIN . . .
PORTUGAL . . .
IRAN . . .
CHINA P . . .
OTH CTY . . .
TOTAL . . .
Pl.’s Reply Br. Ex. B. (U.S. Census Bureau Data). It is important to note that plaintiff makes no argument that, because Customs has
previously liquidated entries of seeds other than seeds of the
Pinus pinea
under the HTSUS
subheading “Pignolia,” its nuts should likewise be classified under this subheading. In other
words, plaintiff does not argue that it is entitled to prevail on the theory that Customs’ previous
actions of liquidating entries of
Pinus
seeds constitutes prior “treatment,” and that Customs’
decision not to liquidate the seeds of the
Pinus koraiensis
under this subheading is a departure
from such treatment. The Federal Circuit has held that “the admission of entries ‘expeditiously
and without examination or Customs officer review’ does not constitute ‘treatment’ within the
meaning of section 1625(c)(2).”
Motorola, Inc. v. United States
,
reflects is that the importers self-classified the seeds of the Pinus koraiensis under “Pignolia,” not that Customs made a reasoned decision that this was the appropriate subheading.
For its part, defendant points to The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion and The Book of Edible Nuts , both indicating that pignolia nuts are seeds of the Pinus pinea . Def.’s Br. Ex. G (Rosengarten); Def.’s Br. Ex. H (The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion). For instance, The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion provides “Pine nuts grow in China, Italy, Mexico, North Africa and southwestern United States. There are two main varieties. . . . The Mediterranean or Italian Pine Nut is from the stone pine [ i.e. pignolia ]. The stronger-flavored Chinese pine nut is shaped like a squat triangle.” Def.’s Br. Ex. H (The Deluxe Food Lover’s Companion). The Book of Edible Nuts also distinguishes pine nuts based on species and geographical location. Def.’s Br. Ex. G (Rosengarten).
A look at sources not cited by the parties sheds some light on the common meaning of “Pignolia.” Pinenut.com, run by a domestic organization “advocat[ing] and consult[ing] on sustainable forestry approaches” distinguishes domestic pine nuts from Korean pine nuts and Italian pine nuts. Know your pine nuts!, Pinenut.com, http://www.pinenut.com/pine-nuts/pinon- pinyon-nuts.shtml (last visited Nov. 9, 2016). Discussing different species of pine nuts, the website states: “ITALIAN Stone pine (Pinus pinea) [m]any tout the Pine nuts from Italy (pignolia, pinolia), however[,] that species Pinus pinea is very common in the European market and grown throughout the Meditrainian [(sic)] region. The processing factors and distribution factors of Pinus pinea end up making it rather bland.” Id. This website shows that at least one U.S. organization, with an interest in pine nuts, distinguishes the Italian pignolia nut from other pine nuts, arguing there is a difference in quality. Id. (“Siberian Nuts are much smaller . . . [t]he nut meat looks nothing like the nut meats of New Mexican or Nevada Pine nuts, [and]. . . they are not as ‘round and flat’ as pinons.”).
In sum, for the court, the sources fail to demonstrate that there is a commercial meaning for the word pignolia that covers plaintiff’s product. Therefore, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to establish the common or commercial meaning of pignolia to include pine nuts of all species, and in particular that plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that its seeds of the Pinus koraiensis , are encompassed within the meaning of the word.
B. Customs’ New York Ruling Letters Did Not Establish “Pignolia’s” Meaning
Plaintiff next asserts that Customs established pignolia’s meaning in two New York
Customs Ruling letters classifying oil and vinegar sets. Pl.’s Br. 10. The first Customs Ruling
Letter states: “[o]ne bottle contains ‘Rosemary & Pignoli Infused Oil’ a yellow liquid which is
stated to be canola oil, rosemary, pine nuts (or pignoli) and black peppercorns. It has visible
rosemary sprigs with some pine nuts and peppercorns floating within.” Jensen Decl. Ex. F
(
Tariff classification of Oil and Vinegar from China
, NY F86911 (Customs & Border Prot.
May 31, 2000)). Another Customs Ruling letter on oil and vinegar sets states: “‘rosemary and
pignolia infused oil’ . . . [i]t has visible rosemary sprigs and some pine nuts, or pignoli, and black
peppercorns floating within.” Jensen Decl. Ex. F (
The tariff classification of an Oil and Vinegar
Set from China
, NYG89892 (Customs & Border Prot. May 7, 2001)). Plaintiff argues that these
ruling letters establish that Customs acknowledged that “‘pignolia’ refer[s] to pine nuts
generally, including those of the Asian origin,” and thus that all pine nuts are pignolia nuts. Pl.’s
Br. 10;
Lonza, Inc. v. United States
,
The Government responds that these ruling letters are not persuasive in this case because
agency determinations “are not binding on this court,” and more importantly that it is “unclear
based on the facts available what types of pine nut was included” in the oil and vinegar sets.
[9]
Def.’s Br. 14;
cf. Warner-Lambert Co. v. United States
,
The court finds that the two previous ruling letters are sufficiently unrelated to the
subheading at issue in this case, so as to be unhelpful in establishing a meaning for pignolia.
Here, the classification of the pine trees’ seeds could not be said to have been on the minds of the
authors of the letters classifying oil and vinegar sets. In addition, Customs’ regulations provide
that “[e]ach ruling letter setting forth the proper classification of an article under the provisions
of the [HTSUS]” is applicable “only with respect to transactions involving articles identical to
the sample submitted with the ruling request or to articles whose description is identical to the
description set forth in the ruling letter.” 19 C.F.R. § 177.9(b)(2). The Federal Circuit has
interpreted 19 C.F.R. § 177.9(c) to permit a ruling letter to be “binding only on the party to
whom it is issued, and may be revoked or cancelled at any time.”
[10]
Jewelpak Corp. v. United
States
,
Indeed, pursuant to the regulations, these two ruling letters apply only to Customs’
interpretations with respect to those oil and vinegar sets, not Customs’ interpretation of pignolia.
19 C.F.R. §§ 177.9(b)(2), (c). This being the case, the two ruling letters do not establish that
Customs previously used the term pignolia interchangeably with pine nut. Last, Customs’
rulings are entitled to deference only to the degree of their power to persuade, and this “degree of
deference” turns on “the thoroughness evident in the classification ruling; the validity of the
reasoning that led to the classification; . . . the formality with which the particular ruling was
established; and other factors that supply a ‘power to persuade.’”
Warner-Lambert Co. v. United
States
,
C. There Was Not an Established Meaning for “Pignolia” Under the Tariff Schedules of the United States
Next, plaintiff argues that the meaning of pignolia was established under the Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“TSUS”) and its predecessor tariff schedules, and this meaning
Lonza
,
Item . . . Articles Units of Quantity Rates of Duty Other edible nuts, shelled or not shelled, blanched, or otherwise prepared or preserved:
. . .
Shelled, blanched or preserved:
Almonds: 145.40 Shelled Lb. 16.5¢ per lb. 145.41 Other Lb. 18.5¢ per lb. 142.42 Brazil nuts Lb. Free 145.44 Cashews Lb. Free 145.46 Filberts Lb. 8¢ per lb. 145.48 Peanuts 1/ … 3¢ per lb. Peanut butter Lb.
Other:
Not shelled Lb.
Other Lb. 145.50 Pecans Lb. 10¢ per lb. 145.52 Pignolia Lb. 1 ¢ per lb. 2/ 145.53 Pistache Lb. 1 ¢ per lb. 145.54 Walnuts:
Pickled, immature walnuts Lb. 5¢ per lb. Other Lb. 15¢ per lb.
Other edible nuts:
Shelled or blanched . . . 5¢ per lb Macadamia nuts Lb. [blank] Other Lb. [blank] Edible Nuts and Fruits, Animal and Vegetable Products, Tariff Schedules of the United States Annotated sch. 1, part 9, p.1-54 (1987).
carried forward into the current HTSUS, [12] because there is no evidence Congress intended to change this meaning in the HTSUS. Pl.’s Br. 12–13.
First, plaintiff cites the 1921 Summaries of Trade and Tariff Information (“SOTI”) Report [13] as evidence that, from an early date, pignolia was “a term generally applicable to nuts of pine trees, regardless of species or place of origin.” Pl.’s Br. 11. The 1921 SOTI Report provides an explanation of the Tariff Act of 1922, a predecessor of the TSUS. See General Notes on Para., Summary of Tariff Information 757 (U.S. Tariff Comm’n 1921). Under the heading “Pignolia Nuts,” the 1921 SOTI Report provides:
Description, uses, and production. — Pignolia or pine nuts are the seeds of a considerable number of both American and foreign pines . The nuts are marketed without the shell and in appearance somewhat resemble puffed rice. The kernels are very rich and form an important article of food in some countries. A few species of American pines yield edible nuts, but the domestic product is commercially not important. Southern Europe, Chile, and Mexico produce quantities of the nut. Imports. —Some pignolia nuts are imported; statistics of imports are, however, lacking.
Pignolia Nuts, Summary of Tariff Information 757 (U.S. Tariff Comm’n 1921) (emphasis added). For plaintiff, “[s]uch language indicates that the term ‘pignolia’ was understood [by the Tariff Commission] to be synonymous with ‘pine nuts.’” Pl.’s Br. 12. Further, plaintiff asserts that the definition in the 1921 SOTI Report should be used to interpret “pignolia” in the Tariff Act of 1922. Pl.’s Br. 12. The Tariff Act of 1922 states: “Cream or Brazil nuts, 1 cent per pound; filberts, not shelled, 2½ cents per pound; shelled. 5 cents per pound; pignolia nuts, 1 cent per pound ; pistache nuts, 1 cent per pound.” Tariff Act of 1922, ch. 356, 42 Stat. 858, 895, repealed by Tariff Act of 1930, ch. 497, 46 Stat. 590 (emphasis added); Pl.’s Br. 12. According to plaintiff, the statements concerning pignolia nuts in the 1921 SOTI Report are persuasive as to the meaning of “pignolia” in the Tariff Act of 1922. Pl.’s Br. 12.
Next, plaintiff contends that the meaning of pignolia, accepted in the Tariff Act of 1922,
carried forward to “the relevant provision of [the] Tariff Act of 1930, and then to section 145.52
of the [TSUS].” Pl.’s Br. 12 (citations omitted). In other words, plaintiff’s argument is that the
1921 SOTI Report establishes that the meaning of pignolia nuts includes all species of pine nuts
in the Tariff Act of 1922, and that this meaning carried over to the Tariff Act of 1930 and, by
extension, to the TSUS. Pl.’s Br. 12–13 (“Thus, under the TSUS, the legal definition of the tariff
term ‘pignolia’ remained as it did under the SOTI.”). Finally, because, for plaintiff, pignolia’s
meaning was established under the TSUS, it argues that the court should continue to apply this
meaning when interpreting the HTSUS, unless there is “‘clear evidence’ of congressional intent
to the contrary.” Pl.’s Br. 13 (quoting
Intercontinental Marble Corp. v. United States
, 27 CIT
654, 663,
In response, the Government argues that neither 1921 SOTI Report nor the Tariff Act of 1922 establish a meaning for pignolia nuts that carried over to the HTSUS. Def.’s Br. 15–16. This is because, neither the Tariff Act of 1930, nor the 1946 revision, use the word pignolia. Def.’s Br. 17. According to defendant, even if the 1921 SOTI Report sheds light on the 1922 Tariff Act, because of the gap in the word’s use in subsequent tariff schedules, the 1921 SOTI Report is not persuasive as to the court’s interpretation of the term under the HTSUS. Thus, defendant argues that under the Tariff Act of 1930 and its revisions, all pine nuts were classified under a general category “Other,” because there was no pignolia classification. Def.’s Br. 17. For defendant, this omission is important. Based on the absence of the word pignolia in the later Acts, it argues, it is impossible to say that the description found in the 1921 SOTI Report was carried over from the Tariff Act of 1922 to the TSUS when the word was not mentioned in the intervening Tariff Act or its revisions. See Def.’s Br. 17.
Importantly, the Government maintains that, if the court were to consider a SOTI Report, it should turn to the more recent 1968 SOTI Report, which “provides more specific information as to which foreign pine nuts would be considered ‘pignolia’” under the TSUS. Def.’s Br. 16. The 1968 SOTI Report states
[t]he pignolia nut is gathered from certain species of pine trees. The nuts imported from Italy, Portugal, and Spain are slender nuts, about ½ inch long. These nuts enter almost entirely in the shelled form and are sold, after roasting and slating, for eating out of hand. They are also used as an ingredient in certain Mediterranean- style food dishes.
The domestic pine nut is short and stubby in contrast to the long, slender appearance of the imported nut. . . . The domestic pine nuts are not directly competitive with the imported nuts, as they differ in taste, shape, and the form in which marketed.
Brazil, Cashew and Certain Other Nuts, Summaries of Trade and Tariff Information 264 (U.S. Tariff Comm’n 1968) (emphasis added). Defendant argues that this language distinguishes pignolia nuts from other pine nuts because it provides that pignolia nuts are gathered from “certain” pine trees in Europe, whereas pine nuts, a more general term, refers to domestic nuts from the United States. Def.’s Br. 17. Moreover, the Government also notes that the listed geographic locations do not include China. See Def.’s Br. 16–17; Brazil, Cashew and Certain Other Nuts, Summaries of Trade and Tariff Information 264 (U.S. Tariff Comm’n 1968).
A SOTI Report can indeed help to establish the meaning of words found in earlier acts. Pl.’s Br. 11 (“Although not evidence of legislative intent, the SOTI is illustrative because it ‘may
be employed by the court as a vehicle for ascertaining administrative practice or particular
meanings of tariff terms.’” (quoting
Abitibi Price Sales Corp. v. United States
,
Moreover, the court agrees with the Government that the 1968 SOTI Report is more persuasive when interpreting a term under the TSUS. As defendant points out, the later 1968 SOTI Report more specifically identifies distinctions between pignolia nuts and pine nuts. Thus, “[t]he pignolia nut is gathered from certain species of pine trees. The nuts imported from Italy, Portugal, and Spain . . . The domestic pine nut is short and stubby in contrast to the long, slender appearance of the imported nut.” Brazil, Cashew and Certain Other Nuts, Summaries of Trade and Tariff Information 264 (U.S. Tariff Comm’n 1968). The court finds that the 1968 SOTI Report is persuasive as to the meaning of the term pignolia under the TSUS, at least to the extent that it confirms the Government’s point that all pine nuts are not pignolia.
The conclusion here must be, then, that the meaning of the word pignolia was not
established in the TSUS so as to include the seeds of the
Pinus koraiensis
. Because it concludes
that the plaintiff’s asserted meaning was not established in the TSUS, the court does not address
plaintiff’s remaining arguments regarding the absence of contrary congressional intent.
Cf.
Intercontinental Marble
,
D. Consistent with the Relevant Explanatory Note, the Meaning of Pignolia Does Not Include Seeds of the Pinus koraiensis The Government argues that, based on the Explanatory Notes, the proper interpretation of the term “Pignolia” is seeds of the Pinus pinea . See Def.’s Br. 5–6.
While not legally binding, Explanatory Notes, at least to the six-digit level, are persuasive
authority that “clarify the scope of HTSUS subheadings and . . . offer guidance in interpreting”
the HTSUS.
Streetsurfing
,
The HTSUS was implemented in accordance to the International Convention on the
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (“the Convention”), an international
agreement
[16]
that “requires that signatories, in effectuating the [Harmonized System] in their
respective domestic laws, not alter the scope of a [Harmonized System] heading.”
[17]
Victoria’s
Secret Direct, LLC v. United States
,
This commitment is codified in 19 U.S.C. § 3005(a), by which Congress recognizes its
“obligation to maintain consistency with the Harmonized System.”
Id.
at __, 908 F. Supp. 2d
1348–49. As a result, this Court has held that “in light of the recognized obligation to maintain
HTSUS headings consistently with the [Harmonized System],” and “absent legislative intent” to
differ from the Harmonized System, the court will not presume that Congress enacted a tariff
heading with a different scope than that provided by the drafters of the Harmonized System.
Id.
at __,
This is particularly true in a case like this where the First Edition of the Explanatory Notes was available to those who drafted the eight-digit subheadings at issue. In 1986, the WCO issued the First Edition of the Explanatory Notes, which provided interpretive guidance for terms in the proposed Harmonized System. Introduction, Explanatory Notes (1 ed. 1986). Specifically, the 1986 First Edition Explanatory Notes included the term pignolia and limited it to seeds of the Pinus pinea . That is, in 1986, the First Edition Explanatory Note to the Harmonized System stated “pignolia nuts (seeds of the Pinus pinea ).” This language remained unchanged in the finalized 2007 Explanatory Note and its subsequent revisions. Explanatory Note 08.02 (2007).
The court therefore finds the Explanatory Note to be informative as to the meaning of the
subheading’s words.
See Pima W., Inc. v. United States
,
The Explanatory Note to the Harmonized System states that: “[t]he principal nuts of this
heading are almonds (sweet or bitter), hazelnuts or filberts, walnuts, chestnuts (
Castanea spp.
),
pistachios, pecans and pignolia nuts (seeds of the
Pinus pinea
).” Thus, at least to the six-digit
level, the Explanatory Note limits the words pignolia nuts to the seeds of the
Pinus pinea
. In
other words, the Explanatory Note excludes plaintiff’s seeds to the six-digit level and “one can
properly infer that the product is excluded from the eight-digit subheading.”
[20]
Pima
, 20 CIT at
113 n.2,
Moreover, the drafters of the eight-digit subheadings had available to them not only the
First Edition Explanatory Notes, but also the 1968 SOTI Report when they did their work. The
1968 SOTI Report, as has been noted, is instructive as to the meaning of a term under the TSUS,
and suggests that the term pignolia is limited to seeds of the Italian Stone pine (seeds of the
Pinus pinea
).
Rollerblade
,
Therefore, in 1988 the drafters of the HTSUS had before them the TSUS, the 1968 SOTI
Report, and the 1986 First Edition of the Explanatory Notes. These sources all tend to define
pignolia narrowly, as seeds of the
Pinus pinea
. Moreover, when drafting the HTSUS, the
international agreement reached at the Convention, as well as domestic law, prevented the
drafters from changing or departing from the headings and subheadings in the Harmonized
System when further specifying the scope of the classifications at the eight-digit level.
Victoria’s Secret Direct
,
Based on foregoing, the court holds that term “Pignolia” in HTSUS subheading 0802.90.25 does not include “seeds of the Pinus koraiensis .”
E. This Case is Distinguishable from
Intercontinental Marble
In
Intercontinental Marble
, the parties disagreed as to the proper interpretation of the
term “marble” in HTSUS 6802.
See Intercontinental Marble
,
This case, however, is distinguishable from Intercontinental Marble. There, the Explanatory Note differed from an established meaning of the term. Here, by contrast, plaintiff failed to demonstrate an established meaning for “Pignolia” including its product, the seeds of the Pinus koraiensis . Accordingly, the Explanatory Note does “not contradict the common commercial meaning . . . but instead clarifies the scope of the term.” StoreWALL , 644 F.3d at 1363.
Finally, “[i]t is the court’s independent duty to arrive at ‘the
correct
result, by whatever
procedure is best suited to the case at hand.’”
Lerner
,
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED, and defendant’s cross–motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. Judgment will be entered accordingly.
Dated: December 2, 2016
New York, New York
\s\ Richard K. Eaton ________________________________ Richard K. Eaton, Judge
Notes
[1] All references to the HTSUS refer to the 2009 edition. The pertinent HTSUS subheading provides: 0802 Other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled: 0802.90 Other: Pecans: 0802.90.10 In shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . 8.8¢/kg 0802.90.15 Shelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . .17.6¢/kg Pignolia: 0802.90.20 In shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . .0.7¢/kg 0802.90.25 Shelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . .1¢/kg Other: 0802.90.81 In shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . .1.3¢/kg Shelled: 0802.90.94 Kola nuts . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . . .5¢/kg 0802.90.97 Other . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . . .5¢/kg
[2] Pinus pinea , also known as the Italian Stone Pine, is “a species of pine tree indigenous to southern Europe, northern Africa and parts of the Mediterranean.” Statement of Facts ¶ 11.
[3] The court notes that plaintiff also cites to and quotes Wikipedia. Pl.’s Br. 7 & n.7.
[4] Dendrology is “the study of trees.” Dendrology, Merriam-Webster, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dendrology.
[5] Plaintiff also cites the website thenutbox.com, stating: “Pine Nuts (Pignolia).” Thenutbox.com , http://www.thenutbox.com/Pine-Nuts-Pignolia-p/318.htm (last visited Nov. 9, 2016).
[6] It is worth noting that the USDA articles plaintiff presented, as if they were another agency’s interpretation, do not necessarily reflect the USDA’s understanding of the term pignolia. Importantly, the USDA included a disclaimer in the symposium materials, stating that “[t]he views expressed in each paper are those of the author and not necessarily those of the USDA Forest Service.” Managing Piñon-Juniper Ecosystems for Sustainability and Social Needs , U.S. Dep’t of Agriculture (Apr. 26–30 1993).
[7] Specifically, the chart provides: Table 2. Schedule A Commodity by Country of Origin, Customs, F.a.s., and C.i.f. Values—Continued
[9] In response, plaintiff asserts that because the oil and vinegar sets were from China, it is extremely likely that the pine nuts at issue in these ruling letters were also Chinese pine nuts. Pl.’s Reply Br. 7–8.
[10] The regulation provides that: Except when public notice and comment procedures apply under [section] 177.12, a ruling letter is subject to modification or revocation by [Customs] without notice to any person other than the person to whom the ruling letter was addressed. Accordingly, no other person should rely on the ruling letter or assume that the principles of that ruling will be applied in connection with any transaction other than the one described in the letter. 19 C.F.R. § 177.9(c).
[11] The TSUS was created by the Customs Simplification Act of 1954, which directed the Tariff Commission to compile a revision of customs laws classifying imports for tariff purposes. The Commission submitted the Tariff Classification Study to Congress and the President on November 15, 1960; a supplemental report was submitted in January, 1962. The Commission’s report, as amended, became the Tariff Classification Act of 1962. This act implemented the TSUS, which took effect on August 31, 1963.
[12] The pertinent HTSUS subheading provides: 0802 Other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled: 0802.90 Other: Pecans: 0802.90.10 In shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . 8.8¢/kg 0802.90.15 Shelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . .17.6¢/kg Pignolia: 0802.90.20 In shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . .0.7¢/kg 0802.90.25 Shelled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . .1¢/kg Other: 0802.90.81 In shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . .1.3¢/kg Shelled: 0802.90.94 Kola nuts . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . . .5¢/kg 0802.90.97 Other . . . . . . . . . kg . . . . . . . . .5¢/kg
[13] The SOTI Reports are written by a “professional staff of commodity specialists, economists, lawyers, statisticians, and accountants,” and “reflect the most recent developments affecting U.S. foreign trade in the commodities included.” Foreword, Summary of Tariff Information (U.S. Tariff Comm’n 1968).
[14] Specifically, the Tariff Act of 1930 provides: Par. 757. Cream or Brazil nuts, not shelled, 1½ cents per pound; shelled, 4½ cents per pound; filberts, not shelled, 5 cents per pound; shelled, 10 cents per pound; any of the foregoing, if blanched, shall be subject to the same rate of duty as it not blanched. . . . Par. 761. Edible nuts, not specially provided for, not shelled, 2½ cents per pound; shelled, 5 cents per pound. Tariff Act of 1930, Pub. L. 71-361, 46 Stat. 590 (1930). In addition, the pertinent paragraphs in the 1946 revisions to the Tariff Act of 1930 remained unchanged: Par. 757. Cream or Brazil nuts, not shelled, 1½ cents per pound; shelled, 4½ cents per pound; filberts, not shelled, 5 cents per pound; shelled, 10 cents per pound; any of the foregoing, if blanched, shall be subject to the same rate of duty as if not blanched. . . . Par. 761. Edible nuts, not specially provided for, not shelled, 2 ½ cents per pound; shelled, 5 cents per pound. Def.’s Br. Ex. M (Revision of the Tariff Act of 1930, U.S. Tariff Comm’n 63 para. 757, 761 (June 1946)).
[15] The Federal Circuit concluded that the SOTI Reports are persuasive when
interpreting the TSUS.
Rollerblade
,
[16] “The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. . . .” Nomenclature and Classification of Goods, World Customs Organization, http://www.wcoomd.org/en/about- us/what-is-the-wco.aspx (last visited Nov. 9, 2016). The system is used by more than 200 countries and economies as a basis for their Customs tariffs and for the collection of international trade statistics. Over 98% of the merchandise in international trade is classified in terms of the [Harmonized System]. . . . The Harmonized System is governed by ‘The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.’ The official interpretation of the [Harmonized System] is given in the Explanatory Notes (5 volumes in English and French) published by the WCO. Nomenclature and Classification of Goods, World Customs Organization, http://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx (last visited Nov. 9, 2016).
[17] In preparing the draft version of the HTSUS for congressional consideration, the
U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) explicitly recognized the obligation
of the United States, as a signatory of the Convention on the Harmonized System,
to maintain consistency with the HS nomenclature for the headings that were to be
shared by all signatories to the Convention,
i.e.
, the headings in chapters 1 through
97.
Victoria’s Secret Direct, LLC v. United States
,
[18] The statute provides: (a) In general The Commission shall keep the [HTSUS] under continuous review and periodically, at such time as amendments to the Convention are recommended by the Customs Cooperation Council for adoption, and as other circumstances warrant, shall recommend to the President such modifications in the [HTSUS] as the Commission considers necessary or appropriate— (1) to conform the [HTSUS] with amendments made to the Convention; (2) to promote the uniform application of the Convention and particularly the Annex thereto; (3) to ensure that the [HTSUS] is kept up-to-date in light of changes in technology or in patterns of international trade; (4) to alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens; and (5) to make technical rectifications. 19 U.S.C. § 3005(a).
[19] The Explanatory Note, in full, provides: 08.02- OTHER NUTS, FRESH OR DRIED, WHETHER OR NOT SHELLED OR PEELED. - Almonds: 0802.11 -- In Shell 0802.12 -- Shelled ‐ Hazelnuts or filberts ( Corylus spp. ): 0802.21 -- In shell 0802.22 -- Shelled ‐ Walnuts: 0802.31 -- In shell 0802.32 -- Shelled 0802.40 - Chestnuts ( Castanea spp. ) 0802.50 - Pistachios 0802.90 - Other The principal nuts of this heading are almonds (sweet or bitter), hazelnuts or filberts, walnuts, chestnuts ( Castanea spp. ), pistachios, pecans and pignolia nuts (seeds of the Pinus pinea ). This heading also covers areca (betel) nuts used chiefly as a masticatory, and cola (Kola) nuts used both as a masticatory and as a base in the manufacture of beverages. The heading does not include: (a) Empty walnut or almond hills (heading 14.04). (b) Ground-nuts (heading 12.02), roasted ground-nuts or peanut butter (heading 20.08). (c) Horse chestnuts ( Aesculus hippocastanum ) (heading 23.08). Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System 08.02 (1986).
[20] It is worth noting that the Federal Circuit’s holding in Sigma-Tau Healthscience , is not inapposite. In that case, the disputed heading’s Explanatory Note’s definition of vitamin under heading 29.36 directly conflicted with the HTSUS’s eight-digit country specific subheading 2936.29.50.20. Sigma-Tau Healthscience , No. 16-1125, at *14. The Federal Circuit concluded that, because “[t]his portion of the definition of ‘vitamin’ in [the Explanatory Note] contradicts the express inclusion of vitamin D under the HTSUS heading,” and therefore “must be disregarded.” Id. That is, the drafters of the HTSUS expressly included, at the eight-digit country specific level, a classification incompatible with the definition provided in the Explanatory Notes. Here, however, the meaning suggested by the Explanatory Note does not conflict with the HTSUS’s eight-digit country specific heading, but instead is persuasive in clarifying the meaning of undefined tariff terms.
[21] The progression of the TSUS subheading to the applicable HTSUS subheading is also significant. The TSUS, under the heading “Other edible nuts, shelled or not shelled, blanched, or otherwise prepared or preserved” provides for: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, peanuts, pecans, pignolia, pistache, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. Edible Nuts and Fruits, Animal and Vegetable Products, Tariff Schedules of the United States Annotated sch. 1, part 9, p.1-54 (1987). In comparison, the first version of the HTSUS subheading 0802 provides for: almonds, hazelnuts or filberts, walnuts, chestnuts, pistachios, and pignolia nuts. HTSUS 0802 (1989). The applicable 2009 HTSUS remains substantially the same as the 1989 version. HTSUS 0802 (2009).
[22] After the Harmonized System and Explanatory Notes, Congress passed the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act to incorporate the international agreement requirements into U.S. law. Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act, Pub. L. 100–418, H.R. Rep. No. 100-576, at 549 (Conf. Rep.), as reprinted in 1988 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1547, 1582. The legislative history to the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act provides: Status of Explanatory Notes The Explanatory Notes constitute the Customs Cooperation Council’s official interpretation of the Harmonized System. They provide a commentary on the scope of each heading of the Harmonized System and are thus useful in ascertaining the classification of merchandise under the system. The Explanatory Notes were drafted subsequent to the preparation of the Harmonized System nomenclature itself, and will be modified from time to time by the CCC’s Harmonized System Committee. Although generally indicative of proper interpretation of the various provisions of the Convention, the Explanatory Notes, like other similar publications of the Council, are not legally binding on contracting parties to the Convention. Thus, while they should be consulted for guidance, the Explanatory Notes should not be treated as dispositive. Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act, Pub. L. 100–418, H.R. Rep. No. 100-576, at 549 (Conf. Rep.), as reprinted in 1988 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1547, 1582.