Zenith Electronics Corp. v. United States
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
This appeal is from the judgment of the United States Court of International Trade dated January 14, 1988 (.Zenith II). The United States seeks review of that court’s Opinion and Order dated April 24, 1986, Zenith Electric Corp. v. United States, et al., 633 F.Supp. 1382 (Ct. Int’l Trade 1986) (.Zenith I), which reversed the final determination of the International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce (Department), in an administrative review under 19 U.S.C. § 1675(a) (1982 and Supp. II 1984), 50 Fed.Reg 24,278 (1985), of an anti-dumping order, T.D. 71-76, Television Receiving Sets, Monochrome and Color, from Japan, 36 Fed.Reg 4597 (Dep’t Comm. 1971), and remanded the case to the Department for redetermination.
Background
In accordance with the antidumping laws in effect in 1982, after an affirmative determination of antidumping duties, the International Trade Administration (ITA) was required annually to redetermine the amount of the duty, i.e., the margin by which the foreign market value of merchandise subject to the antidumping order exceeds the United States price. 19 U.S.C. § 1675(a) (1982).
the amount of any taxes imposed in the country of exportation directly upon the exported merchandise or components thereof, which have been rebated, or which have not been collected, by reason of the exportation of the merchandise to the United States, but only to the extent that such taxes are added to or included in the price of such or similar merchandise when sold in the country of exportation; ....
19 U.S.C. § 1677a(d)(l)(C) (1982) (emphasis added).
Although the Department had admitted in other, earlier determinations that the “addition to section 772(d)(1)(C) of the ‘but only to the extent’ language, intended that [the Department] measure absorption and limit the addition to the tax passed through,” Color Television Receivers from Korea, 49 Fed.Reg 7620, 7624 (Dep’t Comm. 1984) (final determination of sales at less than fair value), it further stated that because of “informational difficulties,” id., “it [was] impossible to do so.” Id. Under these circumstances, the Department presumed a full pass-through. Id. See also Color Television Receivers from Taiwan, 49 Fed.Reg 7628, 7632 (Dep’t Comm. 1984) (final determination of sales at less than fair value).
In this determination, Television Receiving Sets, Monochrome and Color, from Japan, 50 Fed.Reg. 24,278, 24,279 (Dep’t Comm. 1985) (final admin, review), the Department rejected Zenith’s and the three domestic unions’ proposed method for measurement of the pass-through. The Department stated that “[a]bsent evidence that clearly demonstrates that a manufacturer’s commodity tax cost is not reflected in the home market sales prices, the Department may reasonably conclude that cost and price are directly related.” Id. The Department assumed that 100% of the
The government now seeks to overturn the April 24, 1986 remand order by the Court of International Trade in Zenith I, requiring the Department to measure tax pass-through to consumers in the home market, by appealing from the January 14, 1988 judgment in Zenith II, affirming its antidumping duty determination based on the recalculation.
DISCUSSION
Appellate courts are not in business to issue advisory opinions. Generally, a party has a statutory right to appeal from a judgment only when it has been aggrieved by the judgment, Deposit Guaranty National Bank of Jackson, Mississippi v. Roper, 445 U.S. 326, 333, 100 S.Ct. 1166, 1171, 63 L.Ed.2d 427 (1980). But “[i]n an appropriate case, appeal may be permitted from an adverse ruling collateral to the judgment on the merits at the behest of the party who has prevailed on the merits, so long as that party retains a stake in the appeal satisfying the requirements of Art. Ill,” id. at 334, 100 S.Ct. at 1171-72. Because its determination was affirmed, the government has not been aggrieved by the judgment of the Court of International Trade on January 14, '1988.
The adverse ruling that the government in actuality protests is the April 24, 1986 order by the Court of International Trade requiring the Department to calculate the amount of the pass-through. The question is whether, though prevailing, the government retains a stake in the question it appeals, satisfying the requirements of Article III. Since the pass-through in this case is the same — 100%—whether assumed or calculated, the government has no stake in the legality of the April 24, 1986 order. With or without that order, the government’s antidumping duty determination stands. Hence, the case or controversy requirement of Article III is not met.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
The government’s appeal of the Court of International Trade’s January 14, 1988 judgment is dismissed.
19 U.S.C. § 1675(a)(1) has since been amended so that reviews are done only upon request. (Supp. V 1987).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ZENITH ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, Independent Radionic Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Technical, Salaried and Machine Workers, AFL-CIO-CLC v. The UNITED STATES, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., US JVC Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Panasonic Co. and Quasar Co. a division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, Inc., Panasonic Hawaii, Inc., and Panasonic Sales Co. a division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of Puerto Rico, Inc., General Corporation of Japan, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Sales America, Inc., NEC Corp. and NEC Home Electronics (U.S.A.) Inc.
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published