No. 21-721

Transpacific Steel LLC, et al. v. United States, et al.

Lower Court: Federal Circuit
Docketed: 2021-11-16
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (2)
Tags: delegation-of-legislative-power federal-energy-administration-v-algonquin-sng national-security presidential-authority separation-of-powers statutory-interpretation tariff-imposition tariffs trade-expansion-act-1962 trade-regulation
Key Terms:
Arbitration Securities
Latest Conference: 2022-03-25
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the President exceeded statutory authority under section-232

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1862, (“section 232”), authorizes the President to “adjust imports” that he determines threaten national security. The statute directs that the President “shall” determine whether to take action within ninety days of receiving a report from the Secretary of Commerce. If he determines to take action, he “shall implement that action” within 15 days. This case challenges actions taken by the President pursuant to section 232 to double the tariffs only on imported steel products from the Republic of Turkey more than 120 days after the two express deadlines in section 232. It is undisputed that the President’s action to impose the 50 percent tariff on imports of steel from Turkey alone was taken well after both deadlines expired. Despite this, a panel of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, by a 2-1 vote, reversed the Court of International Trade and upheld the imposition of the additional tariff, finding that the mandatory “shall” language in section 232 was merely permissive. Accordingly, this petition presents the following questions: 1. Whether the President acted outside of the scope of the statutory authority Congress granted under section 232 by doubling the tariff on steel imports from Turkey after the expiration of the statutory periods for presidential action specified in section 232(c)(1)? 2. Whether section 232, as construed by the Federal Circuit majority in this case to eliminate ii mandatory deadlines for presidential action, is inconsistent with this Court’s ruling in Federal Energy Administration v. Algonquin SNG, Inc., 426 U.S. 548 (1976), and is therefore an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power to the President in violation of Article I, section 8 of the Constitution and principle of separation of powers because it cedes to the President the virtually unbounded power to tax and otherwise regulate imports?

Docket Entries

2022-03-28
Petition DENIED.
2022-03-09
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/25/2022.
2022-03-03
Reply of petitioners Transpacific Steel LLC, et al. filed.
2022-02-17
Brief of respondents United States, et al. in opposition filed.
2022-01-04
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including February 17, 2022, for all respondents.
2022-01-03
Motion to extend the time to file a response from January 18, 2022 to February 17, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-12-16
Brief amici curiae of Oman Fasteners, LLC and Koki Holdings America, Ltd. filed.
2021-12-15
Brief amici curiae of Members of the United States Senate filed.
2021-11-23
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including January 18, 2022, for all respondents.
2021-11-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 16, 2021 to January 17, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-11-12
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 16, 2021)

Attorneys

Members of the United States Senate
Timothy Lanier MeyerVanderbilt University Law School, Amicus
Oman Fasteners, LLC and Koki Holdings America, Ltd.
Michael P. HousePerkins Coie LLP, Amicus
Transpacific Steel LLC, et al.
Julie Clark MendozaMorris, Manning & Martin, LLP, Petitioner
United States, et al.
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent