What is the Court of International Trade?

With the latest tariffs stymied by the court today—we thought it a good time to answer the question What I is the Court of International Trade?

The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) is a federal court that has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases involving customs and international trade laws of the United States. It’s based in New York City. The court is made up of nine judges appointed for life by the President and approved by the Senate. Decisions of the CIT can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court.

The geographical jurisdiction of the United States Court of International Trade extends throughout the United States. The court can and does hear and decide cases which arise anywhere in the nation. The court also is authorized to hold hearings in foreign countries.  The different types of cases the court is authorized to decide–that is, its subject matter jurisdiction–are limited and defined by the Constitution and specific laws enacted by the Congress.  The subject matter jurisdiction of the court was greatly expanded by the Customs Courts Act of 1980. Under this law, in addition to certain specified types of subject matter jurisdiction, the court has a residual grant of exclusive jurisdictional authority to decide any civil action against the United States, its officers, or its agencies arising out of any law pertaining to international trade.