The United States Court of International Trade: A Timeline
1789: Congress enacts the first tariff statute and the first customs administrative statute. Act of July 4, 1789, ch. 2, 1 Stat. 24; Act of July 31, 1789, ch. 5, 1 Stat. 29. During most of the nineteenth century, most litigation arising from customs law and administration is conducted in federal courts of general jurisdiction.
1890: The Board of General Appraisers is created as an administrative tribunal within the Department of the Treasury to adjudicate disputes over customs valuation and tariff classification of imported goods and the applicable rate and amount of customs duties. Act of June 10, 1890, ch. 407, 26 Stat. 131.
1909: The Court of Customs Appeals is created as a federal court to hear appeals from the Board of General Appraisers. Act of August 5, 1909, ch. 6, § 28, 36 Stat. 11, 105.
1926: The Board of General Appraisers is renamed the United States Customs Court. Act of May 28, 1926, ch. 411, 44 Stat. 669.
1929: The Court of Customs Appeals becomes the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals and continues to hear appeals from the Customs Court. Act of March 2, 1929, ch. 488, 45 Stat. 1475.
1956: The United States Customs Court is designated a court established under Article III of the U.S. Constitution. Act of July 14, 1956, ch.589, 70 Stat. 532.
1970: Procedures for customs litigation in the Customs Court are modernized and improved. Customs Courts Act of 1970, Pub. L. No. 91-271, 84 Stat. 274.
1974: Procedures for judicial review in antidumping and countervailing duty cases in the Customs Court are improved. Trade Act of 1974, Pub. L. No. 93-618, 88 Stat. 1978 (1975).
1979: New procedures for judicial review in antidumping and countervailing duty cases are enacted as part of a comprehensive revision of those laws, making judicial review an integral part of the legal process. Trade Agreements Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-39, 93 Stat. 144.
1980: The Customs Court is renamed the United States Court of International Trade, with expanded jurisdiction and the same status and full powers in law and equity as federal district courts. Customs Courts Act of 1980, Pub. L. No. 96-417, 94 Stat. 1727.
1982: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is created by the merger of the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals and the U.S. Court of Claims and continues to hear appeals for the United States Court of International Trade. Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982, Pub. L. No. 97-164, 96 Stat. 25.