Opinion ID: 209423
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Proceedings Before the Court of International Trade.

Text: On April 6, 2006, FCM timely filed a civil action in the U.S. Court of International Trade. On May 23, 2006 and June 6, 2006, respectively, the court granted Fischer and Cutrale's motions to intervene as interested parties. The court held oral argument on July 25, 2007, wherein FCM asserted that Commerce's determination to adjust the U.S. price by the net import duties (allowing the drawback refund offset) was improper. FCM also argued that Commerce employed improper methodology for calculating the net import duties. The court rejected FCM's arguments in their entirety. In Florida Citrus Mutual v. U.S. Fischer, 515 F.Supp.2d 1324 (Ct. Int'l Trade 2007), the court found that Commerce had reasonably interpreted United States import duties to mean net import duties, and thus sustained Commerce's determination. It reasoned that Commerce's construction of the statute reflected a policy decision which was made within the statutory scheme and is well within the bounds of the agency's discretion in accordance with Chevron.  Id. at 1332. The court rejected FCM's argument that because the drawback refunds came later in time they could not be incident to bringing the subject merchandise into the United States, reasoning that the refunds should be considered part of the movement expenses enumerated by the statute. Id. at 1334. The court concluded that Commerce's methodology produced an accurate U.S. price in accord with the statute.