Importer Asks Supreme Court to Rule on Constitutionality of CIT Duty Payment Requirement

International Custom Products recently requested that the U.S. Supreme Court hear its challenge to the constitutionality of the requirement that importers pay duties before filing suit at the Court of International Trade, according to the Supreme Court’s website (here). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in June 2015 that the duty payment for court challenges of denied protest does not violate International Custom Products’ right to due process (see 1506300073). The now-bankrupt importer would have had to pay $28 million to have its case heard at CIT on the classification of white sauce. International Custom Products had argued a CBP notice of action improperly revoked a ruling letter without the required notice and opportunity to comment (see 12121239).