Legal Definitions - Court of International Trade, U.S.

The U.S. Court of International Trade is a specialized federal court in the United States that has nationwide jurisdiction over legal disputes concerning international trade and customs laws. Its primary role is to review decisions made by government agencies, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the Department of Commerce, related to imports, tariffs, and other trade matters.

• Imagine a U.S. company that imports specialized electronic components from overseas. If the U.S. government suddenly imposes a new, unexpectedly high tariff on these components, and the company believes this tariff was applied incorrectly or unlawfully, they can file a lawsuit against the government in the U.S. Court of International Trade. The court would then review the government's decision to impose the tariff, ensuring it complies with U.S. trade law.

• Consider a clothing importer bringing a shipment of designer handbags into the U.S. Customs and Border Protection might classify these handbags under a tariff code that carries a higher duty rate than the importer believes is appropriate for their specific product. If negotiations with Customs fail, the importer can challenge this classification decision before the U.S. Court of International Trade, arguing for a different, lower-duty classification based on the legal definitions of the tariff codes.

• Suppose a domestic steel manufacturer believes that foreign steel producers are "dumping" steel into the U.S. market—selling it at unfairly low prices due to government subsidies in their home countries. After the U.S. Department of Commerce investigates and makes a ruling on whether these unfair trade practices are occurring, either the domestic manufacturer or the foreign producers (if they disagree with the ruling) can appeal that decision to the U.S. Court of International Trade. The court would then review the Commerce Department's findings and methodology to ensure fairness and adherence to trade laws.