Slip-Op. 00-116
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
_____________________________
:
LEN-RON MANUFACTURING :
CO., INC., et al., :
:
Plaintiffs, : Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
: BEFORE: CARMAN, CHIEF JUDGE
v. :
:
UNITED STATES, :
:
Defendant. :
_____________________________ :
Plaintiffs, Len-Ron Manufacturing Co., Inc., et al., (Len-Ron) move for partial summary
judgment pursuant to U.S. CIT R. 56(a), contending they are entitled to judgment as a matter of
law because the United States Customs Service (Customs) improperly classified the merchandise
at issue under subheading 4202.92.45, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS), as “Other . . . With outer surface of sheeting of plastic . . . Travel, sports and similar
bags . . . Other,” dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem. Plaintiffs argue the imported merchandise
is classified properly under subheading 4202.32.10, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally
carried in the pocket or in the handbag . . . With outer surface of sheeting of plastic . . . Of
reinforced or laminated plastics,” dutiable at a rate of 12.1¢/kg + 4.6% ad valorem.
Defendant, United States, opposes plaintiffs’ motion. Pursuant to U.S. CIT R. 12(b)(1),
defendant moves to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a) (1994) those
entries included in the summons and complaint whose classification was not protested by
plaintiffs pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1514 (1994). Defendant, also, cross-moves for partial
summary judgment pursuant to U.S. CIT R. 56(b), contending it is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law because the merchandise is classifiable under subheading 4202.12.20, HTSUS, as
“[V]anity cases . . . With outer surface of plastics,” dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem1 and, in
the alternative, affirm Customs’s classification under subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS. Plaintiffs
oppose defendant’s motions.
Held: The Court finds there are no genuine issues of material fact and partial summary
judgment is appropriate. The Court holds the merchandise at issue is classifiable under
subheading 4202.12.20, HTSUS. Accordingly, plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
1
On October 7, 1999, defendant amended its answer to plaintiffs’ complaint adding an
alternative classification under subheading 4202.12.20, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS), “[V]anity cases . . . With outer surface of plastics.”
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Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
is denied, and defendant’s Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is granted. The Court
grants defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in Part for Lack of Jurisdiction with respect to those entries
subject to defendant’s motion and to the classification cause of action only.
Dated: September 1, 2000
Soller, Shayne & Horn (William C. Shayne and Margaret Hardy Sachter, of Counsel),
New York, New York, for plaintiffs.
David W. Ogden, Assistant Attorney General of the United States; Joseph I. Liebman,
Attorney in Charge, International Trade Field Office, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil
Division, United States Department of Justice (Mikki Graves Walser); Chi S. Choy, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, International Trade Litigation, United States Customs Service, of
Counsel, for defendant.
OPINION
CARMAN, CHIEF JUDGE: Plaintiffs, Len-Ron Manufacturing Co., Inc., et al., (Len-Ron)
move for partial summary judgment pursuant to U.S. CIT R. 56(a), contending they are entitled
to judgment as a matter of law because the United States Customs Service (Customs) improperly
classified the merchandise at issue under subheading 4202.92.45, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTSUS), as “Other . . . With outer surface of sheeting of plastic . . . Travel,
sports and similar bags . . . Other,” dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem.2 Plaintiffs argue3 the
2
Subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, in relevant part, states:
4202 Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, attache cases, briefcases, school
satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical
instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers;
traveling bags, toiletry bags, knapsacks and backpacks, handbags,
shopping bags, wallets, purses, map cases, cigarette cases,
tobacco pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle cases, jewelry
boxes, powder cases, cutlery cases and similar containers, of
leather or of composition leather, of sheeting of plastics, of
textile materials, of vulcanized fiber, or of paperboard, or
wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper:
* * *
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Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
imported merchandise is classified properly under subheading 4202.32.10, HTSUS, as “Articles
of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag . . . With outer surface of sheeting of
plastic . . . Of reinforced or laminated plastics,” dutiable at a rate of 12.1¢/kg + 4.6% ad
valorem.4
Defendant, United States, opposes plaintiffs’ motion. Pursuant to U.S. CIT R. 12(b)(1),
defendant moves to dismiss in part for lack of jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a) (1994)
those entries included in the Summons and Complaint whose classification was not protested by
plaintiffs pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1514 (1994)5. Defendant, also, cross-moves for partial
Other:
* * *
4202.92 With outer surface of sheeting of plastic or of textile materials:
Travel, sports and similar bags:
* * *
4202.92.45 Other 20%
3
The Court notes plaintiffs abandon the alternative classification proposed in their
complaint for the merchandise at issue. (See Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiffs’
Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss this Action as to Certain Entries and in Support of
Plaintiffs’ Response to Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Plaintiffs’
Response) at 4-5 (“Plaintiffs are abandoning their alternate claim that these cosmetic bags are
classifiable as articles of sheeting of plastic under 3926.90.90 HTSUS.”).)
4
Subheading 4202.32.10, HTSUS, in relevant part, states:
Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag:
* * *
4202.32 With outer surface of sheeting of plastic or of textile materials:
With outer surface of sheeting of plastic:
4202.32.10 Of reinforced or laminated plastics 12.1¢/kg +
4.6%
5
19 U.S.C. § 1514(a) (1994) states, in relevant part:
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Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
summary judgment pursuant to U.S. CIT R. 56(b)6, contending it is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law because the merchandise is classifiable properly under subheading 4202.12.20,
HTSUS, as “[V]anity cases . . . With outer surface of plastics,” dutiable at a rate of 20% ad
valorem7 and, in the alternative, under subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS. Plaintiffs oppose
defendant’s motions. This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a) (1994).
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs are manufacturers and distributors of cosmetics. The complaints in this
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section . . . decisions of the Customs
Service, including the legality of all orders and findings entering into the same, as to –
***
(2) the classification and rate and amount of duties chargeable;
***
shall be final and conclusive upon all persons (including the United States and any officer
thereof) unless a protest is filed in accordance with this section . . . .
6
The Court notes plaintiffs and defendant simultaneously filed their respective motions
for partial summary judgment on March 20, 2000.
7
Subheading 4202.12.20, HTSUS, in relevant part, states:
Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, attache cases, briefcases, school satchels
and similar containers:
* * *
4202.12 With outer surface of plastics or of textile materials:
4202.12.20 With outer surface of plastics: 20%
* * *
Other:
Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases
and similar containers
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Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
consolidated action8 raise two independent causes of action. The first cause of action contests
Customs’s classification of the merchandise at issue under subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, as
“Other . . . With outer surface of sheeting of plastic . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . .
Other,” dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem. The second cause of action contests Customs’s
appraisement decisions with regard to certain entries. Of the entries at issue in this action,
plaintiffs contest the classification of thirty-nine entries. However, there are twenty-three other
entries in which plaintiffs only contest the appraisement decisions made by Customs.9 Those
twenty-three entries are not reached by this opinion.
8
The eight causes of action consolidated under Court No. 94-08-00488 pursuant to U.S.
CIT R. 42(a) include Court Nos.: 94-08-00488; 94-09-00550; 96-02-00600; 96-02-00601; 96-03-
00753; 96-08-01946; 97-02-00223 and 97-02-00224. The motion to consolidate this action was
granted July 25, 1997. The Court notes no consolidated complaint was filed by the parties in this
consolidated action.
9
The entries for which plaintiffs contest classification are: Entry Nos. 456-2933533-5;
456-0293604-4; 456-0293536-8; 456-0293788-5; 456-0293709-1; 456-0293710-9; 456-
0293736-4; 456-0293884-4; 456-0293701-8; 456-0294150-7; 456-0294015-2; 456-0293910-5;
456-0293900-6; 456-0293871-9; 456-0293795-0; 456-0094275-4; 456-0293833-9; 456-
0294016-0; 456-0294267-9; 456-0294293-5; 456-0294317-2; 456-0295560-6; 456-0295661-2;
456-0295671-1; 456-0295741-2; 456-0295848-5; 456-0296169-5; 456-0296233-9; 456-
0296295-8; 331-9282601-5; 456-0297226-2; 482-0822147-2; 906-1101960-6; 456-0297495-3;
456-0297850-9; 456-0297804-6; 456-0298032-3; 456-0298074-5; 456-0298116-4. (See
Defendant’s Statement of Material Facts As to Which There is No Genuine Issue to be Tried
(Defendant’s Statement of Facts) at ¶ 3; Plaintiffs’ Objection to Defendant’s Statement of
Material Facts as to Which There is No Genuine Issue to be Tried (Plaintiffs’ Response to
Defendant’s Facts) (no objection to defendant’s statements in ¶ 3).)
The entries for which plaintiffs did not protest classification are: Entry Nos. 456-
0002945-5; 456-0295872-5; 456-0295908-7; 456-0296044-0; 456-0295722-2; 456-0003076-6;
456-0003105-3; 456-0296239-6; 456-0296113-3; 456-0296155-4; 456-0296167-9; 456-
0296191-9; 456-0296192-7; 456-0296216-4; 456-0296424-4; 456-0296428-5; 456-0296403-8;
456-0296428-5; 456-0297000-1; 456-0297173-6; 456-0297225-4; 456-0297327-8; 456-
0297880-6. (See Defendant’s Statement of Facts at ¶ 4; Plaintiffs’ Response to Defendant’s
Facts (no objection to defendant’s statements in ¶ 4).)
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Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
The merchandise at issue consists of variously shaped cosmetics bags,10 articles of which
have been invoiced by plaintiffs as “rectangular bag, halfmoon bag, fabric bag, travel bag, PVC
sponge bag, reusable bag, cosmetic case, cosmetic bag, GWP sunnysider, hatbox U.S.A. bag,
new stone open bag, horizontal tote, fabric mirror pouch, nylon cosmetic bag, generic bag, nylon
drawstring bag, and cosmetic pouch.” (Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion to
Dismiss in Part and Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Defendant’s
Motion) at 1-2.) Made with an outer surface of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and an inner lining of
polyvinyl sheathing,11 the cosmetics bags are supple, non-rigid and not supported by frames.
Plaintiffs import the merchandise at issue for use as promotional items to be presented to
customers upon the purchase of a certain amount of plaintiffs’ cosmetic and toiletry products,
either as a free premium or at a nominal additional cost. Articles of merchandise are used to
contain, organize and segregate cosmetic and toiletry products and some are small enough to be
10
The Court notes plaintiffs refer to the merchandise at issue as “cosmetic bags,” (see
Plaintiffs’ Statement Under Rule 56(i) of Material Facts as to which There is No Dispute at ¶ 1
(Plaintiffs’ Statement of Facts)); however, throughout the opinion the Court will refer to the
merchandise at issue as “cosmetics bags” for the purposes of this opinion. The Court finds the
terms to be synonymous.
11
The Court notes all the proposed classifications at issue in this matter may require the
merchandise at issue to have a plastic component in order for classification to be proper. See
heading 4202, HTSUS (“[O]f sheeting of plastics”); subheading 4202.12.20 (“With outer surface
of plastics”), subheading 4202.32.10 (“With outer surface of sheeting of plastic . . . Of reinforced
or laminated plastics”), subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS (“With outer surface of sheeting of
plastic”). Because this element of classification has been stipulated to by the parties and the
Court finds its understanding of the tariff phrase comports with that stipulation, the Court, in its
discussion, will refer only to the contested subheadings and phrases, namely subheadings
4202.12, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases,” 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a kind normally carried in the
pocket or the handbag,” and 4202.92.45, HTSUS, “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . .
Other.”
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housed12 within a handbag.13
II. CONTENTIONS OF THE PARTIES
A. Plaintiffs
1. Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in Part
Plaintiffs oppose defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction certain entries for
which plaintiffs did not protest classification. Plaintiffs argue defendant’s motion is premature,
irrelevant to the cross-motions for summary judgment before the Court, and the Court should
deny the motion with leave for defendant to renew.
Even though plaintiffs admit no protests regarding classification were filed for the
twenty-three entries for which defendant seeks dismissal, plaintiffs contend the Court should
proceed to determine the proper classification of the merchandise without dismissing the
classification claims with respect to those twenty-three entries. Plaintiffs argue the cross-
motions for partial summary judgment before the Court involve a legal question concerning the
scope and meaning of three tariff provisions, and the Court’s judgment in no way depends upon
how many or which entries will be affected. Plaintiffs maintain determination of the entries
affected by the Court’s judgment is largely a clerical task to be undertaken when the Court’s
12
See infra note 34.
13
The parties admit women normally carry a handbag containing various personal items
wanted about their person for convenience. (See Plaintiffs’ Statement of Facts at ¶ 8;
Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’ Statement under Rule 56(i) of Material Facts as to Which
There is no Dispute (Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’ Facts) at ¶ 8.)
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judgment is executed. At that point, plaintiffs propose, defendant should be allowed to renew its
motion to dismiss certain entries, or the parties may stipulate to a list of entries to which the
judgment applies.
2. Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
Plaintiffs contend no genuine issues of material fact exist, and they are entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Len-Ron argues Customs improperly classified the cosmetics bags
under subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, as “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . . Other,”
dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem. Plaintiffs also assert defendant’s proposed alternative
classification for the merchandise at issue under subheading 4202.12.20, HTSUS, as “[V]anity
cases,” dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem, is incorrect. Len-Ron contends the merchandise at
issue is classified properly under subheading 4202.32.10, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind
normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag,” dutiable at a rate of 12.1¢/kg + 4.6% ad
valorem.
a. Proper Classification of the Merchandise at Issue under Subheading 4202.32,
HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
Plaintiffs argue the cosmetics bags at issue are normally carried by women in a handbag
to hold, segregate and protect cosmetics. A cosmetics bag, plaintiffs argue, is similar to other
personal articles, e.g., wallet, change purse, organizer, women normally carry in their handbags
for daily use. Plaintiffs maintain the cosmetics bags at issue are not carried normally as a
separate bag or container. Therefore, plaintiffs argue subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of
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a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag” encompasses the merchandise at issue.
Plaintiffs also argue legislative history supports classification of the cosmetics bags under
subheading 4202.32, HTSUS. Len-Ron contends analysis of the statute establishes subheading
4202.32, HTSUS, as a use provision. Plaintiffs maintain legislative history supports a use-based
interpretation of the statute rather than one based solely on the exemplars listed in the statute and
Explanatory Notes for Chapter 42.02, HTSUS.14 According to plaintiffs, the Harmonized System
Committee (HSC) of the Customs Cooperation Council’s use of the phrase “Articles of a kind
normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag,” instead of the exemplar-based Tariff Schedule
of the United States (TSUS) provision for “flat goods,”15 illustrates the HSC’s intention for the
subheading to cover a broad base of similar articles characterized by their use as containers for
articles carried on the person. Plaintiffs maintain the subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, is not
limited, by it own terms or by the intent of the drafters, to the specific articles enumerated in
heading 4202, i.e., wallets, purses, map cases, cigarette cases, similar containers, or in the
14
The Explanatory Notes are the official interpretation of the scope of the Harmonized
Commodity Description and Coding System (which served as the basis of the HTSUS) as viewed
by the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), the international organization that drafted the
international nomenclature. See E.M. Chemicals v. United States, 923 F. Supp. 202, 207 n.6
(CIT 1996).
15
The Tariff Schedule of the United States (TSUS), schedule 7, part 1, subpart D,
Headnote 2(c) (1986), provided that the term “flat goods” covered:
small flatwares designed to be carried on the person, such as banknote cases, bill cases,
billfolds, bill purses, bill rolls, card cases, change purses, cigarette cases, coin purses,
coin holders, compacts, currency cases, key cases, letter cases, license cases, money
cases, pass cases, passport cases, powder cases, spectacle cases, stamp cases, vanity cases,
tobacco pouches, and similar articles.
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Explanatory Notes for Chapter 42.02, HTSUS, i.e., “similar containers” in second part of heading
4202, HTSUS, as including note-cases, writing cases, pen-cases, ticket-cases, cigar-cases, etc.16
Plaintiffs maintain, the Explanatory Note clearly shows this heading continues to include flat
goods; however, unlike the subheading used in the TSUS, subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, will be
governed by use, not exemplars. Therefore, plaintiffs argue, since the merchandise at issue is to
be used or carried within a handbag, it squarely falls under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS,
“Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
Also, plaintiffs argue, while the exemplars in the statute and Explanatory Notes may not
be used as limitations for classification under heading 4202.32, they are relevant for determining
the essential characteristics, under the ejusdem generis rule of statutory construction,17 of items
classifiable within subheading 4202.32, HTSUS. Plaintiffs assert the cosmetics bags at issue
share the essential characteristics of the exemplars enumerated in the statute and Explanatory
16
The Court notes the Explanatory Notes for Chapter 42.02 state, in relevant part:
“[Subheadings 4202.31, 4202.32, and 4202.39] cover articles of a kind normally carried in the
pocket or in the handbag and include spectacle cases, note-cases (bill-folds), wallets, purses, key-
cases, cigarette-cases, cigar-cases, pipe-cases and tobacco-pouches.”
17
Ejusdem generis, which means “of the same kind,” is a rule of statutory construction
providing:
where an enumeration of specific things is followed by a general word or phrase, the
general word or phrase is held to refer to things of the same kind as those specified. As
applicable to classification cases, ejusdem generis requires that the imported merchandise
possess the essential characteristics or purposes that unite the articles enumerated eo
nomine in order to be classified under the general terms.
Sports Graphics, Inc. v. United States, 24 F.3d 1390, 1392 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (citations omitted).
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Notes. Like the exemplars, the merchandise at issue is small, lightly constructed and designed to
be carried in a handbag and is normally so carried. Therefore, the merchandise at issue is
properly classifiable under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally carried
in the pocket or in the handbag.”
b. Improper Classification of the Merchandise at Issue under Subheading
4202.92.45, HTSUS, as “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . .
Other.”
Plaintiffs argue the merchandise at issue is not classifiable under subheading 4202.92.45,
HTSUS, as “Other . . . With outer surface of sheeting of plastic . . . Travel, sports and similar
bags . . . Other,” dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem. First, plaintiffs contend Customs
improperly classified the merchandise at issue within a residuary subheading without
determining first whether the article was classifiable within any of the other available
subheadings. Plaintiffs maintain the merchandise at issue is prima facie classifiable under
subheading 4202.32, HTSUS. Without refutation of this classification, plaintiffs argue,
Customs’s classification of the cosmetics bags under the residuary subheading in Chapter 42,
HTSUS, “Other” is improper. Moreover, plaintiffs contend Additional U.S. Note 1 (U.S. Note
1)18 requires Customs to exclude the merchandise at issue from classification under subheading
4202.32, HTSUS, prior to using subheading 4202.92, HTSUS, “Other.”
18
Chapter 42, Additional U.S. Note 1 (U.S. Note 1) states, in relevant part:
For the purposes of heading 4202, the expression “travel, sports and similar bags” means
goods, other than those falling in subheadings 4202.11 through 4202.39, of a kind
designed for carrying clothing and other personal effects during travel, including
backpacks and shopping bags of this heading . . . .
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Second, plaintiffs contend Customs’s classification under subheading 4202.92, HTSUS,
“Other” is contrary to the classification methodology set forth by the General Rules of
Interpretation (GRI). GRI 619 instructs comparisons be made only between tariff provisions at
the same level of the tariff hierarchy. Len-Ron argues Customs’s rationale for classification
under subheading 4202.92, HTSUS, is based upon a comparison of two provisions that are not
comparable, “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag,” a subheading
and “Travel, sports and similar bags,” a subordinate division of the subheading “Other.”
Plaintiffs argue Customs’s interpretation and analysis of the merchandise at issue under the
HTSUS is erroneous.
Plaintiffs further argue, even if the merchandise at issue is prima facie classifiable under
subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, and subheading 4202.92, HTSUS, GRI 3(a)20 would mandate
19
General Rule of Interpretation (GRI) 6 states:
For legal purposes, the classification of goods in the subheadings of a heading shall be
determined according to the terms of those subheadings and any related subheading notes
and, mutatis mutandis, to the above rules, on the understanding that only subheadings at
the same level are comparable.
20
GRI 3(a) states, in pertinent part:
When, by application of rule 2(b) or for any other reason, goods are, prima facie,
classifiable under two or more headings, classification shall be effected as follows:
(a) The heading which provides the most specific description shall be preferred to
headings providing a more general description.
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classification under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, because it offers “the most specific
description” of the merchandise at issue. Moreover, even if the subheading 4202.32, HTSUS,
could be compared with subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar
bags . . . Other,” plaintiffs contend, subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, would still be the proper
classification because the merchandise at issue does not share essential characteristics with the
exemplars enumerated under subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS. Citing U.S. Note 1 to Chapter 42
of the HTSUS, plaintiffs maintain, unlike travel, sports and similar bags, the merchandise at
issue is not designed to carry clothing and other personal effects during travel. Also, plaintiffs
argue the merchandise at issue is not designed to be carried independently but within another
container. Therefore, plaintiffs assert the merchandise at issue may not be properly classified
under subheading 4202.92.45, as “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . . Other.”
c. Improper Classification under Subheading 4202.12.20, HTSUS, “[V]anity
cases.”
Plaintiffs argue the cosmetics bags may not be classified properly under the eo nomine21
tariff term “[V]anity cases” in subheading 4202.12, HTSUS.
First, plaintiffs contend the term “[V]anity cases” is ambiguous and dictionary definitions
of the term and expert testimony reveal three distinct forms of the article: a compact, a handbag
and a small piece of luggage. Plaintiffs maintain the statute refers to the third definition, a small
21
An eo nomine designation is one which describes a “commodity by a specific name,
usually one well known to commerce.” United States v. Bruckmann, 582 F.2d 622, 625 n.8
(CCPA 1978).
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piece of luggage. Plaintiffs base their argument on the drafting history of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule (HTS). Len-Ron notes the HTS is a multi-national tariff with international
nomenclature, and the meaning of a term must be construed in the context of the various
languages in which the HTS is written. According to plaintiffs, under the international
nomenclature, HTS headings and subheadings should encompass the same items despite
language differences. Plaintiffs contend the first part of the heading 4202, i.e., “Trunks,
suitcases, vanity cases, attache cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases,
camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers . . . ,” which
includes the term “vanity cases,” was intended to include items of luggage. Comparing the
English and French terminology under heading 4202, HTSUS, plaintiffs maintain the term
“vanity cases” was intended by the drafters to be equivalent to the French term “les mallettes de
toilettes,” i.e., little trunks for toilet articles. According to plaintiffs, the merchandise at issue
does not meet this definition.
In addition, plaintiffs argue, under the rule of ejusdem generis, the cosmetics bags do not
share essential characteristics with the containers listed in the first part of heading 4202 or in
subheadings 4202.12, HTSUS, “Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, attache cases, briefcases, school
satchels and similar containers [e.g., hat boxes, camera accessory cases, cartridge pouches,
sheaths for hunting or camping knives . . . . See Ch. 42.02, Explanatory Notes].” Plaintiffs
maintain all the exemplars are designed to be carried independently as external bags, unlike the
merchandise at issue. Therefore, plaintiffs contend the eo nomine provision of “vanity cases”
under which defendant would classify the cosmetics bags has been shown by definition,
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legislative history and similitude to be limited to the type of vanity case that resembles a small
suitcase for cosmetics. Therefore, plaintiffs argue the merchandise at issue may not be classified
properly under subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, as “[V]anity cases.”
For all the reasons cited above, plaintiffs assert the proper classification of the
merchandise at issue is under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally
carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
B. Defendant
1. Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in Part
Pursuant to U.S. CIT R. 12(b), defendant, United States, moves to dismiss the twenty-
three entries for which classification was not protested. Defendant argues it is fundamental that
in order for the Court to have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a) over the twenty-three entries
at issue in this motion, it was necessary for plaintiffs to have protested Customs’s classification
for each entry pursuant to 19 U.S.C. §§ 1514 and 1515. The government contends because
plaintiffs did not protest the classification of the twenty-three entries it seeks to dismiss, the
Court may not properly exercise jurisdiction over those entries. Accordingly, defendant moves
for dismissal with respect to those twenty-three entries.
2. Defendant’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment
Defendant argues there are no issues of material fact, and it is entitled to judgment as a
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matter of law. Defendant contends the cosmetics bags at issue should be classified under
subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases,” and, in the alternative, under subheading
4202.92.45, HTSUS, “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . . Other.” Defendant maintains
the cosmetics bags are not classifiable properly under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of
a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
a. Proper Classification of the Merchandise at Issue under Subheading
4202.12, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases.”
Defendant argues the cosmetics bags should be classified under subheading 4202.12,
HTSUS, an eo nomine provision for “vanity cases.” Finding the term ambiguous, defendant
acknowledges the common dictionary meaning of the term “vanity case” includes several forms
of the article, e.g., a small luggage bag for holding cosmetics, small container to carry cosmetic
accessories. Even so, defendant argues Congress is presumed to know the language of commerce
so as to classify commodities according to the general usage and denomination of the trade;
therefore, in the absence of legislative intent, an eo nomine provision includes all forms of an
article. Defendant contends the merchandise at issue fits squarely within the common meaning
of the term “vanity cases” as used in the HTSUS. Defendant asserts a vanity case is a small
handbag or case for carrying cosmetics. Customs notes plaintiffs refer to the merchandise at
issue as cosmetics cases, defined as a small piece of luggage for cosmetics. Based on the
similarity of their definitions, defendant argues a cosmetic case is a vanity case. Therefore, the
merchandise at issue may be classified properly under subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, as “[V]anity
cases.”
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Defendant also argues plaintiffs may not argue under the rule of ejusdem generis to refute
classification of the cosmetics bags under subheading 4202.12, HTSUS. Defendant contends
since the merchandise at issue falls squarely within the common meaning of the term “[V]anity
case[]” in the subheading, ejusdem generis may not be used to restrict the scope of the provision.
Defendant contends the common meaning of the term “vanity case” is clear. Therefore, rules of
construction such as ejusdem generis may not be used to narrow the term’s common meaning.
Even so, defendant contends, if the rule of ejusdem generis applies and the term “vanity
cases,” in fact, only applies to luggage, the cosmetics bags would still be classifiable under
subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, as “similar containers.” Defendant argues all the articles
enumerated in subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, are traveling bags used to carry different types of
articles. Since the rule of ejusdem generis requires only that the merchandise possess the
essential character running through all enumerated exemplars, defendant maintains the
merchandise at issue is ejusdem generis because it is a travel bag used to carry cosmetics.
Defendant contends plaintiffs’ argument using ejusdem generis has no merit.
b. Proper Classification of the Merchandise at Issue under Subheading
4202.92.45, HTSUS, as “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . .
Other.”
Alternatively, Customs argues the cosmetics bags were classified properly upon entry
under subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, as “Other . . .Travel, sports and similar bags . . . Other.”
Defendant maintains, contrary to plaintiffs’ assertions, it classified the merchandise under the
residuary subheading 4202.92, HTSUS, by relying upon the plain meaning of the statute and not
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upon a comparison between subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a kind normally carried in
the pocket or in the handbag” and subheading 4202.92, HTSUS, “Other.” According to
Customs, the cosmetics bags are not classifiable under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS; therefore,
Customs’s choice of the residuary subheading was appropriate.
According to Customs, the cosmetics bags fall under the statutory definition of “[t]ravel,
sports and similar bags” as provided by Chapter 42, Additional U.S. Note 1, HTSUS, “goods . . .
of a kind designed for carrying clothing and other personal effects during travel.” Defendant
argues plaintiffs refer to the merchandise at issue as travel bags, cases and pouches in marketing
and advertising literature and, according to plaintiffs, the merchandise is designed to carry
personal effects such as cosmetics. Accordingly, contends defendant, the cosmetics bags meet
the statutory definition of “Travel, sports and similar bags” and therefore, it was classified
properly under subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, as “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . .
Other.”
c. Improper Classification under Subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of
a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
Customs argues the language of subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, is plain and unambiguous,
and the merchandise at issue may not be classified properly under the subheading. Customs
contends the statutory phrase “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the
handbag,” was intended by Congress to refer only to small pocket articles. To bolster its
argument, Customs cites the exemplars enumerated in the Explanatory Notes as “Articles of a
kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag,” i.e., spectacle cases, note-cases (bill-
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folds), wallets, purses, key-cases, cigarette-cases, cigar-cases, pipe-cases and tobacco-pouches.
Defendant claims the fact all these items may be carried in the pocket as well as in the handbag
illustrates subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, was only meant to include items which are capable of
being carried in a pocket. Therefore, argues Customs, this size limitation precludes classification
of the merchandise at issue under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, because the cosmetics bags are
not small pocket articles.
In addition, defendant uses HTS drafting history to support the validity of its conclusion
that the plain meaning of subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, only implicates small pocket articles.
Customs argues, in 1978, the United States Administration proposed to the HSC an additional
subheading for “flat goods” in heading 4202 which the United States’ delegate explained was
intended to give separate status to small pocket articles. According to defendant, the HSC agreed
with the United States about the need for an additional subheading but in lieu of the phrase “flat
goods” chose the phrase “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
Defendant contends the phrase used in subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, was borrowed from
Chapter 71 of the HTSUS and its Explanatory Notes classifying articles of jewelry, all of which
may be carried in the pocket.22 Also, defendant notes similar language was in use in the TSUS to
define articles of jewelry, and a variation of this language was used to define “flat goods.”
Defendant contends since the HSC essentially adopted the United States “flat goods” proposal in
22
Chapter 71, Note 8(b), HTSUS, provides:
(b) Articles of personal use of a kind normally carried in the pocket, in the handbag or on
the person (such as cigarette cases, powder boxes, chain purses or pill boxes.
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the Explanatory Notes, although under a different title, and since, according to the U.S. delegate,
the “flat goods” provision was intended to include only small pocket articles, subheading
4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag” was
intended only to cover small pocket articles.
In addition, defendant contends when Congress recast the TSUS “flat goods” provision in
the Explanatory Notes, as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag,” it
removed the term “vanity cases” from the exemplars that had been enumerated in the TSUS
provision. According to Customs, the regrouping of “vanity cases” in an alternative subheading
4202.12, HTSUS, limited the scope of subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, to small pocket articles. By
changing the language of the recast flat goods provision to include only articles of a kind
normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag and providing for vanity cases in a separate
provision, Congress manifested an obvious intent to treat vanity cases separately and distinctly
from those articles with which they had been grouped under the TSUS. Therefore, the
merchandise at issue is not classifiable under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind
normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
Customs also argues plaintiffs failed to demonstrate the cosmetics bags are “of a kind”
normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag as required by the plain meaning of the statute.
Customs notes classification within headings and subheadings using the phrase “of a kind” is
controlled by use. Pursuant to the instruction of Additional U.S. Rule of Interpretation 1(a),
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HTSUS,23 defendant contends the cosmetics bags are not of the “class or kind” of goods
described in subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket
or in the handbag” because the merchandise at issue is not commercially fungible24 with those
items which define the class or kind of articles covered by subheading 4202.32, HTSUS.
According to defendant, plaintiffs have produced no evidence of commercial fungibility.
Defendant maintains, under the plain meaning subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, the cosmetics bags
may not be classified properly as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the
handbag.”
For all these reasons, defendant argues the proper classification for the merchandise at
issue is subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases.”
III. MOTION TO DISMISS IN PART FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION
When a defendant challenges the Court’s jurisdiction, the plaintiff has the burden of
demonstrating jurisdiction exists. See Lowa, Ltd. v. United States, 561 F. Supp. 441, 443 (CIT
23
Additional U.S. Rule of Interpretation 1(a), HTSUS, provides, in pertinent part:
(a) a tariff classification controlled by use (other than actual use) is to be determined
in accordance with the use in the United States at, or immediately prior to, the
date of importation, of goods of that class or kind to which the imported goods
belong, and the controlling use is the principal use . . . .
(Emphasis added).
24
Defendant cites the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s decision in
Primal Lite, Inc. v. United States, 182 F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 1999) to support its argument
that articles are of the same “class or kind” as required by Additional Rule of Interpretation 1(a),
HTSUS, if “commercially fungible.” Primal Lite, 182 F.3d at 1365.
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1983).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a), this Court has “exclusive jurisdiction of any civil action
commenced to contest the denial of a protest, in whole or in part, under section 515 of the Tariff
Act of 1930 [the Act].” Codified at 19 U.S.C. § 1515(a) (1994), section 515(a) of the Act
provides, “the appropriate customs officer, within two years from the date a protest was filed in
accordance with section 1514 of this title, shall review the protest and shall allow or deny such
protest in whole or in part.” Section 1514(a) states decisions of the Customs Service including
“the classification and rate and amount of duties chargeable . . . shall be final and conclusive
upon all persons . . . unless a protest is filed in accordance with this section.” 19 U.S.C. §
1514(a).
Plaintiffs do not dispute their failure to file protests regarding the classification of the
twenty-three entries at issue in defendant’s motion to dismiss in part for lack of jurisdiction.
Therefore, because no protests were filed, the classification of the twenty-three entries at issue is
final and conclusive. See United States v. Ataka Am., Inc., 826 F. Supp. 495, 502 (CIT 1993)
(“Failure to protest [classification] results in the finality of the decision.”). Accordingly, the
Court finds it lacks jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a) over those non-protested entries and
grants defendant’s motion dismissing the twenty-three entries at issue with respect to the
classification cause of action. See Computime, Inc. v. United States, 601 F. Supp. 1029, 1031
(CIT 1984). This Court makes no determination as to how the twenty-three entries may be
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considered in the appraisement cause of action.25
IV. CROSS-MOTIONS FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
A. Standard of Review
This case is before the Court on plaintiffs’ motion and defendant’s cross-motion for
partial summary judgment. Under U.S. CIT R. 56(c), summary judgment is appropriate if, based
on the papers before the Court, “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact” and “the
moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” When deciding summary judgment
motions in classification cases, the Court must first ascertain the proper meaning of the specific
terms in the tariff provision, a question of law, and second determine whether the merchandise at
issue comes within the description of such terms as properly construed, a question of fact. See
SGI, Inc. v. United States, 122 F.3d 1468, 1471 (Fed. Cir. 1997). The parties claim there are no
genuine issues as to any material facts; therefore partial summary judgment is appropriate in this
matter. This Court agrees.
The sole issue before the Court is a question of law26 pertaining to the proper
interpretation of pertinent sections of the HTSUS. See id. (citing Rollerblade, Inc. v. United
States, 112 F.3d 481, 483 (Fed. Cir. 1997)). The Court will conduct a de novo review of this
25
This Court will address the appraisement cause of action separately.
26
Customs’s decisions are entitled to a presumption of correctness under 28 U.S.C. §
2639(a)(1) (1994); however, where “a question of law is before the Court on a motion for
summary judgment, the statutory presumption of correctness is irrelevant.” Blakley Corp. v.
United States, 15 F. Supp. 2d 865, 869 (CIT 1998) (citing Universal Elecs., Inc. v. United States,
112 F.3d 488, 492 (Fed. Cir. 1997)).
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matter based on the record before it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2640(a)(1) (1994).27 See Gulfstream
Aerospace Corp. v. United States, 981 F. Supp. 654, 658 (CIT 1997). In making its
determination as to the proper classification under the HTSUS, the Court must consider whether
“the government’s classification is correct, both independently and in comparison with the
importer’s alternative.” Jarvis Clark Co. v. United States, 733 F.2d 873, 878 (Fed. Cir. 1984).
B. Classification Under the HTSUS
The proper classification of merchandise entering the United States is directed by the
General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) of the HTSUS and the Additional United States Rules of
Interpretation. See Orlando Food Corp. v. United States, 140 F.3d 1437, 1439 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
The HTSUS scheme is organized by headings; each of which has one or more subheadings
providing a more particularized segregation of the heading at issue. See id. Under the GRI, the
Court must first construe the language of the heading and any section or chapter notes in question
to determine whether the product at issue is classifiable under the heading. Only then may the
Court look to the subheadings to find the correct classification for the merchandise at issue. See
id. at 1440; GRI 1, 6.28
27
In this case, Customs has not promulgated any regulations interpreting the relevant
headings or subheadings; therefore, the Court will conduct de novo review based on the record
before it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2640(a)(1) (1994). See Carl Zeiss, Inc. v. United States, 195
F.3d 1375, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (citing Mead Corp. v. United States, 185 F.3d 1304, 1307 (Fed.
Cir. 1999)).
28
General Rule of Interpretation (GRI) 1 states, in pertinent part, “[C]lassification shall
be determined according to the terms of the headings and any relative section or chapter notes . . .
.”
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“As with other statutory provisions, it is the function of the court to interpret the tariff
acts in a manner that will fulfill or carry out the intent of Congress.” Neco Elec. Prods. v. United
States, 14 CIT 181, 183 (1990). To ascertain Congress’ intent, the Court first looks to the plain
meaning of the statutory text. See Marcor Dev. Corp. v. United States, 926 F. Supp. 1124, 1129
(CIT 1996) (citing Trans-Border Customs Servs. v. United States, 843 F. Supp. 1482, 1485 (CIT
1994)). If the plain language of the statute demonstrates the clear and unambiguous intent of
Congress, the Court’s inquiry is complete. See id. However, absent any contrary indication of
Congressional intent from the statute or legislative history, tariff terms are construed in
accordance with their common and popular meaning. See Lynteq, Inc. v. United States, 976 F.2d
693, 697 (Fed. Cir. 1992). In construing such terms, the Court may “‘rely upon its own
understanding, dictionaries and other reliable sources.’” North Am. Processing Co. v. United
States, 56 F. Supp. 2d 1174, 1179 (CIT 1999) (quoting Medline Indus., Inc. v. United States, 62
F.3d 1407, 1409 (Fed. Cir. 1995)).
1. Heading 4202, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases . . . similar containers . . . traveling bags,
toiletry bags . . . purses . . . similar containers . . . .”
In this matter, the parties’ arguments principally address the proper subheading
GRI 6 states:
For legal purposes, the classification of goods in the subheadings of a heading shall be
determined according to the terms of those subheadings and any related subheading notes
and, mutatis mutandis, to the above rules, on the understanding that only subheadings at
the same level are comparable.
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classification within heading 4202, HTSUS, for the merchandise at issue. The parties appear to
agree the cosmetics bags are properly classified under heading 4202, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases . . .
and similar containers; . . . traveling bags, toiletry bags . . . purses . . . and similar containers . . .
.” Even so, pursuant to Jarvis Clark, 733 F.2d at 878, the Court must consider whether
classification of the merchandise at issue is, in fact, appropriate under heading 4202, HTSUS.
Heading 4202, HTSUS, is comprised of a list of exemplars some of which arguably
describe the merchandise at issue in this matter. Defendant argues the merchandise at issue may
be considered as “vanity cases,” “traveling bags,” “toiletry bags,” or “similar containers.”
Plaintiffs appear to argue the merchandise at issue, which they refer to as cosmetics bags, may be
considered as “similar containers” in the second part of heading 4202, HTSUS. (See Defendant’s
Motion at 7, 16; Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiffs’ for Partial Summary Judgment
(Plaintiffs’ Motion) at 17.) Because the Court finds the language of heading 4202, HTSUS, is
unclear and legislative history provides this Court with no clarification as to those exemplars or
phrases in heading 4202, HTSUS, under which the merchandise at issue may be classified
properly, the Court will use the rule of ejusdem generis to ascertain whether the merchandise at
issue may be classified properly under heading 4202, HTSUS.
In applying the rule of ejusdem generis, the Court must consider whether the merchandise
at issue possesses the essential characteristics or purposes that unite the listed examples
preceding the general term or phrase in the statute. See Avenues in Leather, Inc. v. United States,
178 F.3d 1241, 1244 (Fed. Cir. 1999). It is well-established that the essential characteristic and
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purposes of the heading 4202, HTSUS, exemplars is “to organize, store, protect and carry various
items.” SGI, Inc., 122 F.3d at 1471; Totes, Inc. v. United States, 865 F. Supp. 867, 872 (CIT
1994). In this matter, the parties stipulate the cosmetics bags are used to contain, “organize and
segregate cosmetics [and toiletry products.]” (Plaintiffs’ Statement Under Rule 56(i) of Material
Facts as to Which There is No Dispute (Plaintiffs’ Statement of Facts) at ¶ 10; Defendant’s
Response to Plaintiffs’ Statement under Rule 56(i) of Material Facts As to Which There is No
Dispute (Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’ Facts) at ¶ 10 (Admits but avers irrelevant).) Due
to the breadth of exemplars listed in heading 4202, HTSUS, the exemplars’ essential
characteristics and purpose, the parties’ stipulation, and the Court’s inability to find any other
appropriate heading, the Court finds the merchandise at issue properly classified under heading
4202, HTSUS, because it is used to organize personal items, i.e., cosmetics.
2. Proposed Subheading Classifications within Heading 4202, HTSUS.
In this matter, the parties advance three subheadings within heading 4202, HTSUS, as
possible classifications for the merchandise at issue: subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, as “[V]anity
cases;” subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in
the handbag;” subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, as “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . .
Other.”
a. Merchandise at Issue Prima Facie Classifiable under Subheading
4202.12, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases.”
Defendant argues the cosmetics bags are properly classifiable under subheading 4202.12,
HTSUS, as “[V]anity cases.” Plaintiffs oppose this classification. This Court agrees with
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defendant that the merchandise at issue is prima facie classifiable under subheading 4202.12,
HTSUS.
Subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases” is an eo nomine tariff designation.29 Even
so, the Court finds the term is not clearly defined by the headings, subheadings, or chapter notes
of Chapter 42, HTSUS. In addition, the Court finds Congress did not specify its intent as to the
term “vanity cases.” See subheading 4202.12, HTSUS. Thus, the Court must determine the
common meaning of the term “[V]anity case” as used in the statute. See North Am., 56 F. Supp.
2d at 1178.
Various definitions of the term “vanity case” are advanced by “dictionaries and other
reliable sources” to which the Court looks to discern a tariff term’s common meaning. Id. at
1179. The OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY 430 (2d. ed. 1989) defines “vanity case” as “a small
hand-bag, etc., for ladies, fitted with a mirror and powder-puff.” According to the AMERICAN
HERITAGE DICTIONARY 1944 (3rd ed. 1996), a “vanity case” is “ 1. [a] small handbag or case used
by women for carrying cosmetics or toiletries. 2. a woman’s compact.” The RANDOM HOUSE
DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1580 (1966) defines the term as “a small luggage bag or
case for holding cosmetics or toiletries used or carried by women.” The Court notes the common
meaning of the term “vanity case” appears to include various forms of the article: a compact; a
small handbag or case used by women for carrying cosmetics; and a small luggage bag for
cosmetics.
29
See supra note 21.
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Plaintiffs argue the term “[V]anity case[]” as used in heading 4202, HTSUS, and
subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, only refers to a small piece of luggage for cosmetics. Plaintiffs
base their argument on the Session Notes of the Harmonized System Committee (HSC) of the
Customs Cooperation Council and its working party. Comparing terminology in the French and
English versions of the HTS, plaintiffs maintain, the term “[V]anity cases,” as used in the
HTSUS, was intended to be the equivalent of the French term “les mallettes de toillettes,” i.e.,
little trunk for toilet articles. The Court finds plaintiffs’ argument unpersuasive.30
“Congress is presumed to know the language of commerce, and to have framed tariff acts
so as to classify commodities according to the general usage and denomination of the trade.”
John v. Carr & Son, Inc. v. United States, 77 Cust. Ct. 103, 107 (1976). Therefore, because
Congress used the term “vanity cases” within the statute without limitation as to form, it may be
presumed all forms of the articles are meant by Congress to be included therein. “‘[A]n eo
nomine designation, with no terms of limitation, will ordinarily include all forms of the named
article.’” Carl Ziess, 195 F.3d at 1379 (quoting Hayes-Sammons Chem. Co. v. United States, 55
CCPA 69, 75 (1968)). Because the Court finds the common meaning of the term “vanity case[]”
includes a small handbag or case used to hold cosmetics, the Court finds the merchandise at issue
in this matter, described by the parties as cosmetics bags used to contain cosmetics, prima facie
30
Both parties support their arguments by citing to the Session Notes of the Customs
Cooperation Council’s Harmonized System Committee and its Working Party. The Court notes,
however, working documents, such as commentary by delegations on questions before
Harmonized System Committee which are designed to frame issues for discussion, carry virtually
no weight in interpreting the Harmonized System even though they may contain more detailed
descriptions of the goods under consideration and the rationale for certain positions. See STRUM,
R., CUSTOMS LAW & ADMINISTRATION, § 50.2, 17 (Supp. 1999).
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classifiable under subheading 4202.12, HTSUS.
b. Merchandise at Issue Prima Facie Classifiable under Subheading
4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in
the handbag.”
Plaintiffs argue the cosmetics bags are classified properly under subheading 4202.32,
HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.” Defendant
opposes such classification arguing the plain and unambiguous language of subheading 4202.32,
HTSUS, precludes such classification.
i. “[I]n the pocket or in the handbag”
Defendant first argues the language of subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, specifically “in the
pocket or in the handbag,” plainly and unambiguously indicates Congress only meant to include
small pocket articles in the provision. Such an interpretation necessarily would exclude the
merchandise at issue because it can not be carried in a pocket. In support, defendant cites the
exemplars enumerated in the Explanatory Notes as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the
pocket or in the handbag” and points out that those articles are capable of being carried in the
pocket and in the handbag. Also, Customs cites the drafting history of the HTS to support “the
validity of [this] conclusion[].” Universal Transcon. Corp. v. J.E. Bernard & Co., 42 CCPA 69,
CAD 573 (1954). Defendant contends because subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, was added
pursuant to the suggestion from the United States delegate to the HSC that a subheading be
added to encompass small pocket articles, the resulting phrase “Articles of a kind normally
carried in the pocket or in the handbag” should be read only to include small pocket articles.
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The Court agrees with defendant that the language “in the pocket or in the handbag” of
subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, is plain and unambiguous, however, the Court disagrees with
Customs’s narrow reading of the phrase. The defendant’s construction of the statute would have
the court ignore the disjunctive “or” and rob the phrase “in the handbag” of its independent and
ordinary significance. See Reiter v. Sonotone Corp., 442 U.S. 330, 338 (1979). The Court notes
“[i]n construing a statute we are obliged to give effect, if possible, to every word Congress used.”
Id. at 339. Subheading 4202, HTSUS, encompasses articles of a kind normally carried “in the
pocket or in the handbag.” “Canons of construction ordinarily suggest that terms connected by a
disjunctive be given separate meanings, unless the context dictates otherwise. . . .” Id. The
Court notes “[w]here the language of a statute demonstrates a clear intent of Congress, that intent
is regarded as conclusive.” Marcor, 926 F. Supp. at 1129. Accordingly, this Court finds articles
normally carried in a handbag may fall within subheading 4202.32, HTSUS.
In this matter, the parties stipulate the cosmetics bags may be “small enough to be housed
within a handbag.” (Plaintiffs’ Statement of Facts at ¶ 9; Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’
Facts at ¶ 9.) Given the parties’ stipulation and the plain meaning of the phrase “in the pocket or
in the handbag,” the Court finds the merchandise at issue is not precluded from classification
under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in
the handbag.”
ii. “Articles of a kind normally carried . . .”
The first part of the statutory phrase used in subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a
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kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag,” invokes the concept of use due to its
inclusion of the phrase “of a kind.” See Primal Lite, Inc. v. United States, 15 F. Supp. 2d 915,
917 (CIT 1998) (“The use of the term ‘of a kind’ is nothing more than a statement of the
traditional standard for classifying [an] importation by []use.”).31 While the Court agrees with
the parties that subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, is a use provision, the Court notes subheading
4202.32, HTSUS, addresses use in a particular context which is independent of the purpose for
which the merchandise at issue is utilized, i.e., to contain, “organize and segregate cosmetics
[and toiletry products].” (Plaintiffs’ Statement of Facts ¶ 10; Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’
Facts ¶ 10 (Admits but avers irrelevant).) Subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a kind
normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag” addresses the manner in which articles are
employed or used, i.e., “normally carried,” to serve their intended purpose or use.
When use is invoked by the language of the HTSUS, the Court turns to Additional U.S.
Rule of Interpretation 1 (USRI 1), which states “a tariff classification controlled by use . . . is to
be determined in accordance with the use in the United States at, or immediately prior to, the date
of importation, of goods of that class or kind to which the imported goods belong, and the
controlling use is the principal use.” USRI 1 (emphasis added). In this case, the Court must
determine whether the cosmetics bags are of “that class or kind to which the imported goods
31
The Court notes the phrase “of a kind” principally has been interpreted in tariff
provisions utilizing the term “use.” See, e.g., Primal Lite, Inc. v. United States, 15 F. Supp. 2d
915 (CIT 1998) (Interpreting subheading 9405.40.80, HTSUS, “lighting sets of a kind used for
Christmas trees . . . Other.”). Even so, the Court does not find the lack of the term “use” in
subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, a limitation because a designation by use may be established,
although the word “use” or “used” does not appear in the language of the statute. See E.C.
Lineiro v. United States, 37 CCPA 10, 14, CAD 411 (1949).
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belong.” USRI 1; see United States v. Carborundum Co., 536 F.2d 373, 377 (CCPA 1976). To
make this determination the Court traditionally has used a totality of the circumstances test,
specifically considering factors such as: the physical characteristics of the merchandise; the
expectation of ultimate purchasers; the channels of trade; and use. See Carborundum, 536 F.2d
at 377. However, in 1999, the Federal Circuit appears to have renamed the traditional test to
determine “class or kind” under USRI 1 under the guise of “commercial fungibility.” Primal
Lite, Inc. v. United States, 182 F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (“[W]e construe the [HTSUS] to
call for a determination as to the [class or kind] of goods that are commercially fungible with the
imported goods.”).32
In Primal Lite, the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling which focused on use
between the kind or class of merchandise implicated by the HTSUS provision at issue, “lighting
sets of a kind used for Christmas trees,” and the imported merchandise at issue. See Primal Lite,
15 F. Supp. 2d at 917. The “commercial fungibility” to which the Federal Circuit refers appears
to implicate fungibility in terms of the use specified by the tariff provision at issue. Therefore, in
order to find the merchandise at issue classifiable under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, it must
have a use which is fungible with that which defines the class or kind described in the
subheading, i.e., normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.
The Court notes subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, does not specify the articles encompassed
32
The Court notes the test set forth in United States v. Carborundum Co., 536 F.2d 373,
377 (CCPA 1976) is not refuted in Primal Lite, 182 F.3d at 1365.
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therein; however, the Explanatory Notes33 for Chapter 42 provide “[Subheadings 4202.21,
4202.32 and 4202.29] cover articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag
and include spectacle cases, note-cases (bill-folds), wallets, purses, key-cases, cigarette-cases,
cigar-cases, pipe-cases and tobacco-pouches.” The class or kind defined by the subheading
appears to be items which have independent and various functions, albeit normally carried in the
pocket or in the handbag.
In this matter, the parties stipulate: “[w]omen normally carry some cosmetics with them
so that they can have cosmetics with them on a daily basis;” “[w]omen normally carry a handbag
for convenience to contain various personal items, including cosmetics, that they want to have
about their person on a daily basis;” and “[c]osmetic bags are items that are used to carry
cosmetics and [some34 are] small enough to be housed within a handbag.” (Plaintiffs’ Statement
33
It has been long settled that “while the Explanatory Notes do not constitute controlling
legislative history, they do offer guidance in interpreting HTS subheadings.” Lonza, Inc. v.
United States, 46 F.3d 1098, 1109 (Fed. Cir. 1995).
34
The Court notes plaintiffs maintain “[c]osmetic bags are items that are used to carry
cosmetics and it is small enough to be housed within a handbag.” (Plaintiffs’ Statement of Facts
at ¶ 9.) Defendant responds “[a]dmit[ting] that cosmetics bags are containers that are used to
carry cosmetics, aver[ring] that certain cosmetic bags are small enough to be used in conjunction
with a handbag for daytime use . . . .” (Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’ Facts at ¶ 9.) Also,
plaintiffs aver the cosmetics bags “are of a size to be carried in a handbag” (Plaintiffs’ Statement
of Facts at ¶ 11), and defendant responds “den[ying] that these articles are all of a size to be
carried in a handbag and avers that this denial does not create a genuine issue as to any material
fact. Further avers that certain of these articles are themselves the size of handbags.”
(Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’ Facts at ¶ 11.) In brief, defendant further states “cosmetic
bags are certainly carried in the handbag.” (Defendant’s Reply Memorandum in Opposition to
Plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment at 8.) The Court recognizes defendant’s
statements as to the size of some of the cosmetics bags at issue are directed to its argument that
some of the cosmetics bags may be carried independently of a handbag. The Court notes,
however, such a possibility does not mean such cosmetic bags may not be carried within a
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Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
of Facts at ¶¶ 7, 8, 9; Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs’ Facts at ¶¶ 7, 8, 9 (Averring cosmetic
bags large enough for nighttime use.).) In addition, defendant does not appear to specifically
refute or contest expert testimony presented by plaintiffs that women normally carry cosmetics
bags in their handbags.
Q. How did that mix of what she had match up to what you would normally [sic] from
the rest of your research expect were [sic] the types of things that women will carry
around in their handbag?
A. Well . . . one of the sources that I read and that I quote in the book [Bags, A Lexicon
of Style, Valerie Steele & Laird Borrelli, (Scriptum Editions, 1999)] is from Esquire
Magazine, which had an article a few years ago called “Your Wife: A User’s Manual, Her
Purse” . . . the exact quote . . . “Women carry useful objects, including medication, band-
aids, an organizer . . . cosmetics and cosmetic bag[s] . . . .” [O]ne thing that people almost
always tend to mention is that they will carry cosmetics and a cosmetics bag . . . .”
(Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, Exhibit P, Deposition of Dr. Valerie Steele at
65-67, 69.) Based on the parties’ stipulations and uncontested expert testimony, the Court finds
the cosmetics bags at issue may be housed in a handbag and are so normally carried. Therefore,
the merchandise at issue has a use that is commercially fungible with the class or kind specified
in subheading 4202.32, HTSUS.
Defendant argues the merchandise at issue is not commercially fungible with the articles
covered by subheading 4202.32, HTSUS. Defendant maintains plaintiffs have failed to bring
forth evidence of commercial fungibility demonstrating the cosmetics bags are “competitive with
and can replace the articles ‘of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.’”
(Defendant’s Reply Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiff’s [sic] Cross-Motion for Partial
handbag, and that they are not normally so carried.
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Consol. Court No. 94-08-00488
Summary Judgment at 12.) The Court finds defendant’s analysis, grounded in notions of product
substitutability, too narrow given the use provision at issue. As noted above, subheading
4202.32, HTSUS, is not a traditional use provision implicating the use of the merchandise at
issue. Subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, addresses the manner in which articles are employed or
transported. Accordingly, defendant’s interpretation of commercial fungibility is contrary to the
plain meaning of the statute. On its face, subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, is a provision
encompassing various articles which are employed in a similar manner. Restricting classification
in the manner advocated by defendant would narrow the subheading contrary to legislative intent.
Moreover, defendant’s application of fungibility is further refuted by the Explanatory Notes
which include a list of “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag.”
This Court notes these exemplars are not directly substitutable, e.g., a wallet for a pipe-case,
although they are fungible in the manner in which they are employed, i.e., normally carried in the
pocket or in the handbag.
For the reasons stated above, the Court finds the merchandise at issue prima facie
classifiable under subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, as “Articles of a kind normally carried in the
pocket or in the handbag.”
c. Subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar
bags . . . Other.”
Subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, “Other . . . Travel, sports and similar bags . . . Other” is
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a residuary or basket provision.35 “Classification of imported merchandise in a basket provision,
however, is appropriate only when there is no tariff category that covers the merchandise more
specifically.” Chevron Chem. Co. v. United States, 59 F. Supp. 2d 1361, 1368 (CIT 1999); see
also E.M. Chems. v. United States, 923 F. Supp. 202, 206 (CIT 1996). Because the Court finds
the merchandise at issue prima facie classifiable under two alternative subheadings which covers
the merchandise at issue more specifically, the Court will not address classification under
subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS.
3. The Subheading Preferred for Classification
The Court finds the cosmetics bags at issue prima facie classifiable under subheadings
4202.12, HTUSU, “[V]anity Cases,” and 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a kind normally carried
in the pocket or in the handbag.” Pursuant to GRI 3(a), when a product is prima facie
classifiable under two or more subheadings, “[t]he [sub]heading which provides the most
specific description shall be preferred to [sub]headings providing a more general description.”
GRI 3(a). Therefore, classification of the product turns on which of these two provisions is the
more specific. See Orlando Food Corp. v. United States, 140 F.3d 1437, 1441 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
“Under this so-called rule of relative specificity, [the Court] look[s] to the provision with
requirements that are more difficult to satisfy and that describe the article with the greatest
degree of accuracy and certainty.” Id. (citing United States v. Siemens Am., Inc., 653 F.2d 471,
35
The Court notes the parties agree subheading 4202.92.45, HTSUS, “Other . . . Travel,
sports and similar bags . . . Other,” is a residuary provision. (See Memorandum of Law in
Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment at 17; Defendant’s Reply
Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment at 28.)
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477 (CCPA 1981); see Carl Zeiss, 195 F.3d at 1380.
The Court also recognizes the general rule of Customs jurisprudence that, “‘in the
absence of legislative intent to the contrary, a product described by both a use provision and an
eo nomine provision is generally more specifically provided for under the use provision.’”
Orlando, 140 F.3d at 1441 (quoting Siemens Am., 653 F.2d at 478). However, this Court notes
this rule is not obligatory and only provides a “‘convenient rule of thumb for resolving issues
where the competing provisions are in balance [i.e., equally descriptive].’” Carl Zeiss, 195 F.3d
at 1380 (quoting Siemens Am., 653 F.2d at 478 n.6); see also Totes, Inc. v. United States, 69 F.3d
495, 500 (Fed. Cir. 1995). In this matter, the Court must determine the relative specificity
between subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, an eo nomine provision, and subheading 4202.32,
HTSUS, a use provision.
Even though the Court recognizes the long standing maxim that a use provision is usually
more specific than an eo nomine provision, the Court declines to apply it to the instant case
because the Court finds the competing subheadings do not “equally describe” the merchandise at
issue. See E.M. Chems. v. United States, 920 F.2d 910, 916 (Fed. Cir. 1990). The Court finds
subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, “[V]anity cases,” more specifically describes the cosmetics bags at
issue than subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, “Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in
the handbag.” The Court’s finding is premised on the Court’s understanding that the use
provision at issue in this case is not one which implicates the primary use of the merchandise at
issue but rather the manner in which it is employed, i.e., normally carried in the pocket or in the
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handbag. Unlike subheading 4202.12, HTSUS, which specifies a single article for proper
classification, subheading 4202.32, HTSUS, is a broad provision encompassing a variety of
articles with specific and independent uses as illustrated by the Explanatory Notes. Because the
subheadings are not equally specific, the Court will not prefer the use provision over the eo
nomine provision. Therefore, because the Court finds no other subheading more appropriate, the
Court finds the merchandise at issue are correctly classified under subheading 4202.12, HTSUS,
as “[V]anity cases.”
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the Court finds the merchandise at issue classified properly
under subheading 4202.12.20, HTSUS, as “[V]anity cases . . . With outer surface of plastics,”
dutiable at a rate of 20% ad valorem. Accordingly, plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary
Judgment is denied, and defendant’s Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is granted.
_____________________________
Gregory W. Carman
Chief Judge
Dated: September 1, 2000
New York, New York
Len-Ron Manufacturing Co. v. United States
Court: United States Court of International Trade
Date filed: 2000-09-01
Citations: 118 F. Supp. 2d 1266, 24 Ct. Int'l Trade 948
Copy CitationsCombined Opinion