L. Thaler & Co. v. United States

The merchandise covered by the protest enumerated above consists of battery-operated lanterns which were assessed with duty at the rate of 17 per centum ad valorem under the provisions of paragraph 339 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as modified by the Sixth Protocol of Supplementary Concessions to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 91 Treas. Dec. 150, T.D. 54108, for table, household, kitchen, and hospital utensils and hollow or flatware not specially provided for, whether or not containing electrical heating elements as constituent parts.

*256It is claimed in'said protest that said merchandise is properly dutiable at the rate of 13% per centum ad valorem under the provisions of paragraph 353 of said act, as modified by the Torquay Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 86 Treas. Dec. 121, T.D. 52739, for articles having as an essential feature an electrical element or device.

This protest has been submitted for decision upon a written stipulation of counsel for the respective parties hereto which reads as follows:

IT IS STIPULATED AND AGREED by and between counsel for the plaintiff and the Assistant Attorney General for the United States:

That the items marked “A”, and checked JB (Comm. Spec’s Initials) by Commodity Specialist J. Bistreich (Comm. Spec’s Name) on the invoices covered by the protest enumerated above, assessed with duty at 17 per centum ad valorem under the provisions of paragraph 339, Tariff Act of 1930, as modified, consist of battery operated lanterns which contain as an essential feature an electrical element or device, which are claimed dutiable at 13% per centum ad valorem under the provisions of paragraph 353, Tariff Act of 1930, as modified.

That said merchandise is not an illuminating article, lighting fixture, or lamp, nor does it contain any electrical heating elements as constituent parts thereof.

That the protest enumerated above be deemed submitted on this stipulation, the protest being limited to the items marked with the letter “A”, as aforesaid, and abandoned as to all other items.

Upon the agreed facts, we hold the merchandise here in issue, identified by invoice items marked and checked as aforesaid, to be dutiable at the rate of 13% per centum ad valorem pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 353 of said act, as modified, supra, for articles having as an essential feature an electrical element or device. The claim in the protest to that effect is sustained. All other claims are, however, overruled.

Judgment will be entered accordingly.