CIT Judge Halts Liquidation in Cabinets, Vanities Evasion Case

The Court of International Trade issued an order last week halting liquidation of imported wooden cabinets and vanities from China that were the subject of an Enforce and Protect Act investigation into possible evasion by importer Scioto Valley Woodworking (American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance v. U.S., CIT # 23-00140).

The American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance brought the case in July to challenge CBP's Office of Regulations and Rulings' reversal of the agency's Trade Remedy & Law Enforcement Directorate's finding that Scioto had evaded antidumping and countervailing duty orders on the cabinets and vanities (see 2307120038).

The alliance argued that it met all criteria for the issuance of an injunction, and said without a court order, CBP would liquidate the relevant entries and could deprive the Alliance of "its right to meaningful judicial review." The group also said it would be "immediately and irreparably harmed" without the injunction.

The alliance also said it was likely to win on the merits, citing discrepancies and reporting failures by Scioto’s Malaysian supplier, Alno. It also argued that public interest would be best served by the injunction as it would ensure "accurate and effective, uniform and fair enforcement of trade laws."