Case 1:20-cv-02818-N/A Document 4 Filed 09/21/20 Page 1 of 18
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`UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
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`GLOBAL FOOD TRADING CORP.
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`Plaintiff,
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`UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;
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`OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE
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`REPRESENTATIVE; ROBERT E. LIGHTHIZER,
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`U.S.TRADE REPRESENTATIVE;
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`U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION;
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`MARK A. MORGAN, U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER
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`PROTECTION ACTING COMMISSIONER,
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`Defendants.
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`COURT NO. 20-02818
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`COMPLAINT
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`Plaintiff Global Food Trading Corp. (“Global”), by and through its attorneys The Obert Law
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`Firm, P.L.L.C., allege and state as follows:
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`1.
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`This action challenges Defendants’ unlawful imposition of a third round of
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`additional tariffs on certain imported products originating in The People’s Republic of China
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`(“China”) pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. §2411) (“Section 301”) and
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`covered by Defendant Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (“USTR”) Notice of
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`Modification of Section 301 Action: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology
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`Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 83 Fed. Reg. 47,974 (Sept. 21, 2018) (“List 3”).
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`2.
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`Plaintiff Global alleges that Defendants’ implementation of its List 3 tariff action
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`and unlawful imposition and collection of additional tariffs on products covered by List 3
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`violates Section 301, as Defendant USTR failed to issue List 3 within the statutorily defined 12-
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`month time period required by Section 304 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. §2414) (“Section 304”).
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`3.
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`Plaintiff Global alleges that Defendants’ implementation of the List 3 (and
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`subsequent List 4) tariff action and unlawful imposition and collection of additional tariffs on
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`products covered by List 3 violates Section 307 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. §2417) (“Section
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`307”), as Section 307 does not provide Defendant USTR with authority to expand the imposition
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`and assessment of tariffs to additional imports from China as a response to China’s retaliatory
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`duties and other unrelated issues that are unconnected to those initially investigated by
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`Defendant USTR under Section 301.
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`4.
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`Plaintiff Global further alleges that Defendants’ implementation of the List 3
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`tariff actions and unlawful imposition and collection of additional tariffs on products covered by
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`List 3 violates the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), in so much as that Defendant USTR
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`did not: (1) provide sufficient opportunity for comment; (2) consider relevant factors when
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`making its decision; and (3) establish a nexus between the record facts and its decisions.
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`5.
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`The Court should therefore set aside Defendants’ actions as otherwise contrary to
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`law and order Defendants to refund (with interest) any tariffs paid by Plaintiff Global pursuant to
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`List 3.
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`JURISDICTION
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`6.
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`The Court retains “exclusive” subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant
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`to 28 U.S.C. §1581(i)(1)(B), which provides for “any civil action commenced against the United
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`States, its agencies, or its officers, that arises out of any law of the United States providing
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`for...tariffs, duties, fees, or other taxes on the importation of merchandise for reasons other than
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`the raising of revenue.” 28 U.S.C. §1581(i)(1)(B).
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`PARTIES
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`7.
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`Plaintiff Global is a privately owned importer and distributor of frozen seafood.
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`Plaintiff Global has made numerous entries of such products classified under subheadings
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`0303.23.0000 and 0304.61.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
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`(“HTSUS”), which are subject to the additional ad valorem tariffs under List 3.
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`8.
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`Defendant United States of America (“United States” or “U.S.”) received Plaintiff
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`Global’s payments of the disputed tariffs and is the statutory defendant under 5 U.S.C. §702 and
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`28 U.S.C. §1581(i)(1)(B).
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`9.
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`Defendant USTR, an executive agency of the United States, is responsible for the
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`investigation of foreign country trade practices under Section 301 and the implementation of
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`necessary and appropriate responses thereto, subject to the direction of the President of the
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`United States. Defendant USTR conducted the Section 301 investigation at issue in this action
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`and made numerous decisions regarding List 3.
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`10.
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`Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer (“Lighthizer”) is both the current United States
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`Trade Representative and director of Defendant USTR. In fulfilling both roles, Ambassador
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`Lighthizer made numerous decisions regarding List 3.
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`11.
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`Defendant U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) is the agency of the
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`United States tasked with the collection of duties and tariffs on imports. Defendant CBP
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`collected the payments made by Plaintiff Global’s with respect to the List 3 tariffs imposed by
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`Defendant USTR, which are at issue herein.
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`12.
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`Defendant Mark A. Morgan (“Morgan”) is the Acting Commissioner of
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`Defendant CBP. As Acting Commissioner of Defendant CBP, Defendant Morgan is responsible
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`for the administration of Defendant CBP’s collection of tariffs paid by Plaintiff Global under List
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`3.
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`STANDING
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`13.
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`Plaintiff Global has standing to commence this action because it was required to
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`pay at time of importation of its goods into the United States the unlawful Section 301 tariffs
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`imposed pursuant to List 3. As such, Plaintiff Global is “adversely affected or aggrieved by
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`agency action within the meaning of” the APA, which states in pertinent part “[a]ny civil action
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`of which the Court of International Trade has jurisdiction . . . may be commenced in the court by
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`any person adversely affected or aggrieved by agency action within the meaning of Section 702
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`of title 5.” 5 U.S.C. §702; see 28 U.S.C. §2631(i) .
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`TIMELINESS OF THE ACTION
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`14.
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`Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1581(i)(1)(B), a plaintiff must commence an action
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`“within two years after the cause of action first accrues.” 28 U.S.C. §2636(i).
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`15.
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`The subject action contests actions taken by Defendants that resulted in List 3.
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`Plaintiff Global’s claims relating to List 3 accrued, at the earliest on September 21, 2018, when
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`USTR published its notice of List 3 in the Federal Register notice entitled Notice of Modification
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`of Section 301 Action: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer,
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`Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 83 Fed. Reg. 47,974 (Sept. 21, 2018).
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`16.
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`The instant action was filed within two years of the date Defendant USTR’s
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`September 21, 2018 Federal Register notice covering List 3.
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`RELEVANT LAW
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`17.
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`Section 301 explicitly authorizes Defendant USTR to investigate a foreign
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`country’s trade practices. 19 U.S.C. §2411(b).
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`18.
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`If Defendant USTR investigation uncovers an “unreasonable or discriminatory”
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`practice, Defendant USTR may take “appropriate” action, including the imposition of tariffs on
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`imports from the country administering the unfair practice. Id. §2411(b), (c)(1)(B).
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`19.
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`Section 304 explicitly requires that Defendant USTR determine within 12 months
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`after the initiation of the underlying investigation what, if any, action to take. Id. §2414(a)(1)(B),
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`(2)(B).
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`20.
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`Pursuant to Section 307, Defendant USTR may only “modify or terminate” an
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`action taken pursuant to Section 301 when the “burden or restriction on United States
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`commerce” imposed by the investigated foreign country’s practice has “increased or decreased”
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`or when the action “is no longer appropriate.” Id. §2417(a)(1)(B), (C).
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`RELEVANT FACTS
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`21.
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`On August 14, 2017, the President of the United States directed Defendant
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`Lighthizer to consider initiating a targeted investigation pursuant to Section 301(b) concerning
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`China’s laws, policies, practices, and actions related to intellectual property, innovation, and
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`technology. Addressing China’s Laws, Policies, Practices, and Actions Related to Intellectual
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`Property, Innovation, and Technology, 82 Fed. Reg. 39,007 (August 17, 2017).
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`22.
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`On August 18, 2017, Defendant USTR initiated its investigation into Chinese
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`technology transfer and intellectual property practices. Initiation of Section 301 Investigation;
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`Hearing; and Request for Public Comments: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to
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`Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 82 Fed. Reg. 40,213 (August 24,
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`2017).
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`23.
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`On March 28, 2018, Defendant USTR published its report of its investigation in
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`OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, Findings of the Investigation
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`Into China’s Acts, Policies, And Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property,
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`and Innovation Under Section 301 of The Trade Act of 1974 (March 22, 2018), wherein it
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`concluded that certain investigated “acts, policies, and practices of the Chinese government
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`related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are unreasonable and
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`discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.” Id. at 17.
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`24.
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`On June 20, 2018, Defendant USTR published its Notice of Action and Request
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`for Public Comment Concerning Proposed Determination of Action Pursuant to Section 301:
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`China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and
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`Innovation, 83 Fed. Reg. 28,710 (June 20, 2018), otherwise known as “List 1”, in which
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`Defendant USTR imposed an additional 25 percent ad valorem tariff on certain identified
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`products of China.
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`25.
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`In response to Defendant USTR’s imposition of the additional 25 percent ad
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`valorem List 1 and List 2 tariffs, China imposed similar 25 percent ad valorem tariffs on $50
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`billion of U.S.-origin goods to coincide with the start of the United States’ collection of the List
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`1 ($34 billion on July 6, 2018) and proposed List 2 ($16 billion on August 23, 2018) tariffs.
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`26.
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`On July 10, 2018, Defendant Lighthizer confirmed that China’s retaliatory tariffs
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`motivated Defendant USTR’s proposed action, stating that such actions were proposed “[a]s a
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`result of China’s retaliation and failure to change its practice.” Statement of U.S. Trade
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`Representative Robert Lighthizer on Section 301 Action (July 10, 2018), available at
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`https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2018/july/statement-us-trade-
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`representative.
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`27.
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`Public statements made by the President of the United States that same day
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`further confirm that the proposed additional tariffs were related to the trade imbalance between
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`the United States and China. See e.g., realDonaldTrump, TWITTER (July 10, 2018, 9:17
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`PMEDT), https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1005982266496094209.;
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`@realDonaldTrump, Twitter (July 25, 2018, 7:01 AM EDT),
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`https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1022074252999225344.
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`28.
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`On July 17, 2018, in a clear response to China’s retaliatory imposition of 25
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`percent ad valorem tariffs on U.S.-origin goods, and without any reference to China’s technology
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`transfer, intellectual property, or innovation policies, Defendant USTR proposed the imposition
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`of tariffs on further categories of Chinese-origin products. Request for Comments Concerning
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`Proposed Modification of Action Pursuant to Section 301: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices
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`Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 83 Fed. Reg. 33,608,
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`33,609 (July 17, 2018), initially set a deadline of August 17, 2018 for initial comments; August
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`20-23, 2018 for a public hearing; and August 30, 2018 for rebuttal comments. Id. at 33,608.
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`29.
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`In its July 17, 2018 notice, Defendant USTR cited as its authority Section
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`307(a)(1)(C), which provides that Defendant USTR “may modify or terminate any action,
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`subject to the specific direction, if any, of the President with respect to such action, . . . if . . .
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`such action is being taken under [Section 301(b)] of this title and is no longer appropriate.” Id. at
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`33,609 (citing 19 U.S.C. §2417(a)(1)(c)).
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`30.
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`In its July 17, 2018 notice, Defendant USTR explicitly confirmed China’s
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`decision to impose “retaliatory duties” (i.e., tariffs) as the principal basis for Defendant USTR’s
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`proposed action, stating among other things: “China’s response to the $50 billion action
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`announced in the investigation and its refusal to change its acts, policies, and practices”).
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`31.
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`In its July 17, 2018 notice, Defendant USTR explicitly tied the $200 billion in its
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`proposed action to the level of retaliatory duties imposed by China on U.S. imports, noting that
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`“action at this level is appropriate in light of the level of China’s announced retaliatory action
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`($50 billion) and the level of Chinese goods imported into the United States ($505 billion in
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`2017).” Id. at 33,609.
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`32.
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`Although its July 17, 2018 notice referenced China’s retaliatory measures,
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`Defendant USTR did not explicitly identify any increased burdens or restrictions on U.S.
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`commerce resulting from the unfair practices that USTR had investigated, as required by Section
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`307 (19 U.S.C.§2417(a)(1)(B), (C)).
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`33.
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`On July 18, 2018, Defendant Lighthizer issued a press release discussing the
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`proposed Section 301 action, stating in pertinent part “China has since retaliated against the
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`United States by imposing tariffs on $34 billion in U.S. exports to China, and threatening tariffs
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`on another $16 billion. It did this without any international legal basis or justification…. As a
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`result of China’s retaliation and failure to change its practices, the President has ordered USTR
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`to begin the process of imposing tariffs of 10 percent on an additional $200 billion of Chinese
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`imports….”
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`34.
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`On August 1, 2018, alleging China’s unlawful retaliation against the United
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`States, Defendant USTR announced that it would impose an additional 25 percent ad valorem
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`tariff on certain additional Chinese-origin products. OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE
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`REPRESENTATIVE, Statement by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Section 301
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`Action (Aug. 1, 2018).
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`35.
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`On August 16, 2018, Defendant USTR published its Notice of Action Pursuant to
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`Section 301: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual
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`Property, and Innovation, 83 Fed. Reg. 40,823, 40,823-24 (Aug. 16, 2018), otherwise known as
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`“List 2”, in which it imposed an additional 25 percent ad valorem duty on certain identified
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`products of China.
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`36.
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`On September 17, 2018, the President of the United States issued a statement
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`announcing that, as a result of China’s decision to “impose new tariffs in an effort to hurt the
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`United States economy,” he had directed USTR to impose 10 percent ad valorem tariffs on $200
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`billion of additional imports from China. THE WHITE HOUSE, Statement from the President
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`(Sep. 17, 2018).
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`37.
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`On September 21, 2018, more than 12 months after its August 24, 2017 initiation
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`of the investigation, Defendant USTR published its final “List 3” of affected products subject to
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`the additional tariffs, which would be applied to all listed products that enter the United States
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`from China on or after September 24, 2018. Notice of Modification of Section 301 Action:
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`China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and
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`Innovation, 83 Fed, Reg, 47,974 (Sep. 21, 2018).
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`38.
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`In its September 21, 2018 notice, Defendant USTR justified its action under
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`“Section 307(a)(1)(B)” (19 U.S.C. §2417(a)(1)(B)) as a modification of the existing Section 301
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`action, because the burden on United States commerce had allegedly continued to increase.
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`Citing “Section 307(a)(1)(C),” 19 U.S.C. §2417(a)(1)(C) Defendant USTR further specified in
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`its September 21, 2018 notice that Chinese retaliation made the existing action no longer
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`“appropriate.”
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`39.
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`On September 24, 2018, Defendants USTR and Defendant CBP began imposing
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`and collecting such List 3 tariffs on all listed products entered into the United States from China
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`at the rate of 10 percent ad valorem.
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`40.
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`On May 9, 2019, Defendant USTR announced its intent to raise the tariff rate on
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`List 3 goods from 10 percent ad valorem to 25 percent ad valorem, effective either May 10, 2019
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`or June 1, 2019, depending on the day of export. See Notice of Modification of Section 301
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`Action: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual
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`Property, and Innovation, 84 Fed. Reg. 20,459 (May 9, 2019); see also Implementing
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`Modification to Section 301 Action: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology
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`Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 84 Fed. Reg. 21,892 (May 15, 2019).
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`41.
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`In its May 9, 2019 notice, Defendant USTR cited China’s decision to “retreat
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`from specific commitments agreed to in earlier rounds” of negotiations as the basis for the
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`increase in the duty rate. 84 Fed. Reg. at 20,459.
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`42.
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`Unlike past practice concerning the imposition of new tariffs, Defendant USTR
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`did not seek public comment. It simply announced that the increase would occur. Id.
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`43.
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`On May 17, 2019, USTR announced its intention to proceed with its
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`implementation of Section 301 tariffs on additional products to be included in what would be
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`referred to as “List 4.” Request for Comments Concerning Proposed Modification of Action
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`Pursuant to Section 301: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer,
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`Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 84 Fed. Reg. 22,564, 22,564 (May 17, 2019).
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`44.
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`According to the Defendant USTR’s own statements in its May 17, 2019 notice,
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`its rational for List 4 was to punish China for its failure to meet specific commitments made in
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`prior negotiations and its further retaliation against the U.S. rather than China’s policies with
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`respect to technology transfer, intellectual property, or innovation.
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`45.
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`On August 20, 2019, more than 12 months after the initiation of the investigation
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`(August 24, 2017), Defendant USTR announced that it would implement List 4 in two phases.
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`Notice of Modification of Section 301 Action: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to
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`Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 84 Fed. Reg. 43,304 (Aug. 20,
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`2019).
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`46.
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`In its August 20, 2019 notice, Defendant USTR again relied upon the authority
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`provided in Section 307(a)(1)(B) and (C) as its principal basis for modifying its prior action.
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`47.
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`Defendant USTR’s August 20, 2019 notice refers to China’s defensive actions
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`including retaliatory tariffs as its basis for modifying its prior action.
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`48.
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`Defendant USTR’s August 20, 2019 notice does not identify intellectual property,
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`technology transfer or innovation as the reasons for List 4.
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`49.
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`As part of the first phase of List 4, Defendants USTR and Defendant CBP began
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`imposing and collecting additional 10 percent ad valorem tariffs with respect to products that are
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`entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after September
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`1, 2019.
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`50.
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`To date, the second phase of List 4 has been suspended and has not yet been
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`applied to imported goods form China. The second phase, however, may be imposed if directed
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`by the President.
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`51.
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`On June 24, 2019, Defendant USTR invited the public to seek exclusion from List
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`3 tariffs on a product-specific basis. Procedures for Requests to Exclude Particular Products
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`From the September 2018 Action Pursuant to Section 301: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices
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`Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 84 Fed. Reg. 29,576
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`(June 24, 2019).
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`52.
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`On October 28, 2019, Defendant USTR granted an exclusion for certain “Tilapias,
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`frozen, each not weighing more than 115 g (described in statistical reporting number
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`0304.61.0000)”, retroactive to September 24, 2018 and effective until August 7, 2020. Notice of
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`Product Exclusions: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer,
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`Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 84 Fed. Reg. 57803 (Oct. 28, 2019).
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`53.
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`Until its expiration on August 7, 2020, this exclusion exempted Plaintiff Global
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`from paying List 3 tariffs on the products they imported under HTSUS subheading
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`0304.61.0000, HTSUS. Since that time, however, Plaintiff Global has paid List 3 tariffs on all
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`entries of covered seafood products under subheading 0304.61.0000, HTSUS.
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`54.
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`To date, Defendant USTR did not extend the October 28, 2019 exclusion covering
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`certain seafood products under HTSUS subheading 0304.61.0000, HTSUS beyond August 7,
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`2020.
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`55.
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`No such exclusion has ever been granted by Defendant USTR with respect to List
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`3 products covered by subheading 0303.23.0000, HTSUS.
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`56.
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`The tariffs imposed on products covered by List 3 remain in effect as of the date
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`of this Complaint, with the exception of the limited number of products for which USTR
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`extended its originally granted exclusions from the List 3 tariffs. See, e.g., Notice of Product
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`Exclusion Extensions: China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer,
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`Intellectual Property, and Innovation, 85 Fed. Reg. 48,600 (Aug. 11, 2020).
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`57.
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`Plaintiff Global has been required to pay these unlawful tariffs imposed and
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`collected by Defendants USTR and CBP pursuant to List 3.
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`STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
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`COUNT ONE
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`(DECLARATORY JUDGMENT—VIOLATION OF THE TRADE ACT OF 1974)
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`58.
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`59.
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`Paragraphs 1 through 57 are incorporated by reference.
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`Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2201(a), The Declaratory Judgment Act, any court of the
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`United States is authorized to “declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party
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`seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought.”
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`60.
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`The Trade Act of 1974 does not authorize the actions taken by Defendants that
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`resulted in the List 3 tariffs.
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`61.
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`Defendant USTR may only impose tariffs pursuant to Section 301 when it
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`determines that “an act, policy, or practice of a foreign country is unreasonable or discriminatory
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`and burdens or restricts United States commerce, and action by the United States is appropriate.”
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`19 U.S.C. §2411(b).
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`62.
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`Defendant USTR failed to predicate its action giving rise to List 3 on any such
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`determination.
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`63.
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`Section 304 requires that, if Defendant USTR concludes upon investigation that a
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`foreign country maintains an unfair trade practice, defendant USTR must “determine what
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`action, if any,” to take within “12 months after the date on which the investigation is initiated.”
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`19 U.S.C. §2414(a)(1)(B), (2)(B).
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`64.
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`Defendant USTR’s action giving rise to List 3 occurred on September 21, 2018,
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`more than 12 months after Defendant USTR initiated its underlying Section 301 investigation on
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`August 18, 2017.
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`65.
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`Defendant USTR’s action giving rise to List 4 occurred on August 20, 2019, more
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`than 12 months after Defendant USTR initiated its underlying Section 301 investigation on
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`August 18, 2017.
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`66.
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`Section 307 authorizes USTR to “modify or terminate” an action taken pursuant
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`to Section 301(b) of the Trade Act when the burden imposed on U.S. commerce from the foreign
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`country’s investigated unfair acts, policies, or practices increases or decreases. 19 U.S.C.
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`§2417(a)(1)(B). Section 307, however, does not permit Defendants to increase tariffs for reasons
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`unrelated to the acts, policies, or practices that USTR investigated pursuant to Section 301.
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`Congress did not authorize Defendant USTR to escalate its focused investigatory findings into an
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`open-ended trade war.
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`67.
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`Section 307 also authorizes Defendant USTR to “modify or terminate” an action
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`taken pursuant to Section 301(b) of the Trade Act if the initial action taken by Defendant USTR
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`“is no longer appropriate.” 19 U.S.C. §2417(a)(1)(C). Section 307 does not authorize Defendants
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`to increase tariff actions that are no longer “appropriate,” but rather only to delay, taper, or
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`terminate such actions.
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`Page 14 of 18
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`Case 1:20-cv-02818-N/A Document 4 Filed 09/21/20 Page 15 of 18
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`68.
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`Plaintiff Global is therefore entitled to a declaratory judgment as Defendants’
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`actions giving rise to List 3 (and List 4) are ultra vires and contrary to law.
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`COUNT TWO
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`(VIOLATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT)
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`69.
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`70.
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`Paragraphs 1 through 68 are incorporated by reference.
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`The APA authorizes the Court to invalidate and set aside agency action that is:
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`“(A) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; (B)
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`contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege, or immunity; (C) in excess of statutory
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`jurisdiction, authority, or limitations, or short of statutory right; (D) without observance of
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`procedure required by law; [or] (E) unsupported by substantial evidence.” 5 U.S.C. §706(2).
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`71.
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`The imposition of List 3 tariffs by Defendant USTR, for reasons other than those
`
`relating to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation, exceeded their authority
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`under the Trade Act in promulgating List 3 and, therefore, Defendant USTR acted “not in
`
`accordance with the law” and “in excess of statutory authority” for the reasons set forth in Count
`
`One.
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`72.
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`The imposition of List 3 tariffs by Defendant USTR more than 12 months after
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`the initiation of the investigation is outside the scope of statutory authority and fails to satisfy the
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`procedures required by law.
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`73.
`
`In support of its imposition of List 3 tariffs, Defendants USTR and Lighthizer
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`failed to offer any evidence for any asserted “increased burden” from China’s intellectual
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`property policies and practices that were the subject of USTR’s Section 301 investigation.
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`Page 15 of 18
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`Case 1:20-cv-02818-N/A Document 4 Filed 09/21/20 Page 16 of 18
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`74.
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`Defendants USTR and Lighthizer also promulgated List 3 in an arbitrary and
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`capricious manner because they: (1) did not provide a sufficient opportunity for comment; (2)
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`failed to meaningfully consider relevant factors when making their decisions; and (3) failed to
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`adequately explain their rationale.
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`75.
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`Defendants USTR’s and Lighthizer’s predetermined decision-making resulted in
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`the unlawful imposition and collection (by Defendant CBP) of tariffs on imports covered by List
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`3 (and List 4).
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`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
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`WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Global respectfully requests that this Court:
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`1. declare that Defendants’ actions resulting in tariffs on products covered by List 3
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`are unauthorized by, and contrary to, the Trade Act;
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`2. declare that Defendants arbitrarily and unlawfully promulgated List 3 in violation of the
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`APA;
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`3. vacate the List 3 rulemaking;
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`4. order Defendants to refund, with interest, any tariffs paid by Plaintiff Global pursuant to
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`List 3;
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`5. permanently enjoin Defendants from applying List 3 against Plaintiff Global and
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`collecting any tariffs from Plaintiff pursuant to List 3;
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`6. award Plaintiff Global their costs and reasonable attorney fees; and
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`7. grant such other and further relief as may be just and proper.
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`
`
`
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`Page 16 of 18
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`

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`Case 1:20-cv-02818-N/A Document 4 Filed 09/21/20 Page 17 of 18
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`Dated: September 21, 2020
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`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/s/ Don M. Obert
`
`Don M. Obert
`The Obert Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
`1206 Castle Hill Avenue
`Bronx, New York 10462
`Counsel to Global Food Trading Corp.
`
`
`
`
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`Page 17 of 18
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`Case 1:20-cv-02818-N/A Document 4 Filed 09/21/20 Page 18 of 18
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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`Pursuant to USCIT R. 4(b), (h) and (l), I hereby certify that on or before September 22, 2020, I
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`will cause copes of Plaintiffs’ Summons and Complaint to be served on the following parties by
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`certified mail, return receipt requested. Such filing is timely pursuant to USCIT R. 4(l) as such
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`service is made within 90 days of the filing of the summons and complaint.
`
`
`
`Attorney-In-Charge
`International Trade Field Office
`Commercial Litigation Branch
`U.S. Department of Justice
`26 Federal Plaza
`New York, N.Y. 10278
`
`General Counsel Joseph L. Barloon
`Office of the General Counsel
`Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
`600 17th Street, N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20006
`
`
`Attorney-In-Charge
`Commercial Litigation Branch
`U.S. Department of Justice
`1100 L Street, N.W.
`Washington, DC 20530
`
`Chief Counsel Scott K. Falk
`Office of Chief Counsel
`U.S. Customs and Border Protection
`1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20229
`
`
` /s/ Don M. Obert
`
`Page 18 of 18
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`