Domestic Ag Goods Producers' Amicus Brief Surfaces in Second Surety Bond Case

An amicus brief from a group of domestic agricultural goods producers reared its head in a second case over when the six-year limitations period begins for a customs bond. A group of surety associations should not be able to argue in the case due to their role in "abetting the new shipper bond disaster," the producers argued in their July 16 amicus brief that was granted permission to be filed in the case (United States v. Aegis Security Insurance Co., CIT #20-03628).

The brief is mirrors one filed in a separate case, wherein the U.S. government is attempting to collect antidumping duties on imports of canned mushrooms from China between 2001 and 2002 from the surety for the duties (see 2107120070). This case involves garlic imports from China deemed liquidated in 2006. In both cases, the government argues that sureties have a unique responsibility to pay the duties and that the statute of limitations for the duties runs from when CBP requests payment, not the deemed liquidation date (see 2104260076). The amicus brief was filed by Adee Honey Farms, American Honey Producers Association, Bayou Land Seafood, Catahoula Crawfish, Christopher Ranch, Bowman Company, Sioux Honey Association and The Garlic Company.