CIT Says US Has No Authority for Counterclaim in Customs Case, Redenominates as Defense

The Court of International Trade in a July 20 opinion redenominated the U.S.' counterclaim in a customs case brought by importer Cyber Power Systems as a defense, ruling that the U.S. does not have the statutory authority to make the counterclaim. With the ruling, Judge Claire Kelly denied Cyber Power's motion to toss the counterclaim as moot. The counterclaim sought to reclassify Cyber Powers' cable imports under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 8544.42.90. Kelly ruled that none of the sections in the U.S. code cited by the U.S. give a basis for the counterclaim.