U.S. Court of International Trade

The United States Court of International Trade (CIT) is a specialized Article III court vested with nationwide jurisdiction over civil actions arising from federal laws governing international trade and customs. Headquartered in New York City, the court evolved from the Board of General Appraisers (1890) and the U.S. Customs Court, before being reconstituted in 1980 under its current name and authority. Unlike Article I legislative courts, the CIT is an Article III tribunal: its judges are appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, serve during good behavior (lifetime tenure), and enjoy constitutionally protected salaries. The CIT’s jurisdiction encompasses cases involving customs duties, tariff classifications, antidumping and countervailing duties, trade adjustment assistance, embargoes, and other trade-related statutes. It hears disputes brought by importers, exporters, and occasionally domestic industries challenging determinations of agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Commerce. While headquartered in New York, the court has authority to sit anywhere in the United States and abroad when necessary. Decisions of the CIT are appealable to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and ultimately to the Supreme Court of the United States on certiorari. By providing a uniform and expert forum for adjudicating trade disputes, the Court of International Trade ensures consistent application of federal trade laws, protects the rights of economic actors engaged in global commerce, and reinforces the federal government’s constitutional responsibility to regulate foreign trade.