Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73
§2631 Persons entitled to commence a civil action
Title 28 › Part PART VI— - PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS › Chapter CHAPTER 169— - COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROCEDURE › § 2631
Summary
Lets people bring certain trade-related disputes to the Court of International Trade. If you filed a protest or petition about customs decisions, if you were a party in a proceeding that led to a Tariff Act decision, if workers, firms, or communities who applied for Trade Act help are unhappy with final eligibility decisions, if you were a party-at-interest in a Trade Agreements Act decision, or if your request for confidential trade info was denied, you can start a lawsuit. It also lets people whose customs broker license or permit was denied, revoked, suspended, or punished, or whose private lab accreditation was denied, suspend, or revoked, sue in that court. And other people harmed by federal agency action can sue under the usual rules for agency review. Anyone who would be harmed by a case already filed can ask to join (intervene), but some cases bar intervention (for example, protest or petition cases). In some kinds of cases only people who were already part of the original proceeding may join, and they can do so as a right. The court must consider whether letting someone join will delay or harm the original parties. "Interested party" is a trade stakeholder (as defined in the Tariff Act). "Party-at-interest" covers a few types: foreign makers/exporters or U.S. importers, U.S. makers/wholesalers, U.S. workers in the industry, trade associations of mostly U.S. producers, or associations made up of those members.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §2631
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)A civil action contesting the denial of a protest, in whole or in part, under section 515 of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person who filed the protest pursuant to section 514 of such Act, or by a surety on the transaction which is the subject of the protest.
(b)A civil action contesting the denial of a petition under section 516 of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person who filed such petition.
(c)A civil action contesting a determination listed in section 516A of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by any interested party who was a party to the proceeding in connection with which the matter arose.
(d)(1)A civil action to review any final determination of the Secretary of Labor under section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of workers for adjustment assistance under such Act may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by a worker, group of workers, certified or recognized union, or authorized representative of such worker or group that applies for assistance under such Act and is aggrieved by such final determination.
(2)A civil action to review any final determination of the Secretary of Commerce under section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of a firm for adjustment assistance under such Act may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by a firm or its representative that applies for assistance under such Act and is aggrieved by such final determination, or by any other interested domestic party that is aggrieved by such final determination.
(3)A civil action to review any final determination of the Secretary of Commerce under section 271 of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of a community for adjustment assistance under such Act may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by a community that applies for assistance under such Act and is aggrieved by such final determination, or by any other interested domestic party that is aggrieved by such final determination.
(e)A civil action to review a final determination made under section 305(b)(1) of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by any person who was a party-at-interest with respect to such determination.
(f)A civil action involving an application for the issuance of an order directing the administering authority or the International Trade Commission to make confidential information available under section 777(c)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by any interested party whose application for disclosure of such confidential information was denied under section 777(c)(1) of such Act.
(g)(1)A civil action to review any decision of the Secretary of the Treasury to deny a customs broker’s license under section 641(b)(2) or (3) of the Tariff Act of 1930, or to deny a customs broker’s permit under section 641(c)(1) of such Act, or to revoke such license or permit under section 641(b)(5) or (c)(2) of such Act, may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person whose license or permit was denied or revoked.
(2)A civil action to review any decision of the Secretary of the Treasury to revoke or suspend a customs broker’s license or permit or impose a monetary penalty in lieu thereof under section 641(d)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person against whom the decision was issued.
(3)A civil action to review any decision or order of the Customs Service to deny, suspend, or revoke accreditation of a private laboratory under section 499(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person whose accreditation was denied, suspended, or revoked.
(h)A civil action described in section 1581(h) of this title may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person who would have standing to bring a civil action under section 1581(a) of this title if he imported the goods involved and filed a protest which was denied, in whole or in part, under section 515 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
(i)Any civil action of which the Court of International Trade has jurisdiction, other than an action specified in subsections (a)–(h) of this section, may be commenced in the court by any person adversely affected or aggrieved by agency action within the meaning of section 702 of title 5.
(j)(1)Any person who would be adversely affected or aggrieved by a decision in a civil action pending in the Court of International Trade may, by leave of court, intervene in such action, except that—
(A)no person may intervene in a civil action under section 515 or 516 of the Tariff Act of 1930;
(B)in a civil action under section 516A of the Tariff Act of 1930, only an interested party who was a party to the proceeding in connection with which the matter arose may intervene, and such person may intervene as a matter of right; and
(C)in a civil action under section 777(c)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, only a person who was a party to the investigation may intervene, and such person may intervene as a matter of right.
(2)In those civil actions in which intervention is by leave of court, the Court of International Trade shall consider whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties.
(k)In this section—
(1)“interested party” has the meaning given such term in section 771(9) of the Tariff Act of 1930; and
(2)“party-at-interest” means—
(A)a foreign manufacturer, producer, or exporter, or a United States importer, of merchandise which is the subject of a final determination under section 305(b)(1) of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979;
(B)a manufacturer, producer, or wholesaler in the United States of a like product;
(C)United States members of a labor organization or other association of workers whose members are employed in the manufacture, production, or wholesale in the United States of a like product;
(D)a trade or business association a majority of whose members manufacture, produce, or wholesale a like product in the United States,11 So in original. The comma probably should be a semicolon. and
(E)an association composed of members who represent parties-at-interest described in subparagraph (B), (C), or (D).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 515 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsecs. (a), (h), (j)(1)(A), is classified to section 1515 of Title 19, Customs Duties. section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsec. (a), is classified to section 1514 of Title 19. section 516 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsecs. (b), (j)(1)(A), is classified to section 1516 of Title 19. section 516A of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsecs. (c), (j)(1)(B), is classified to section 1516a of Title 19. The Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (d)(1) to (3), is Pub. L. 93–618, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 1978, which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§ 2101 et seq.) of Title 19. section 223, 251, and 271 of the Trade Act of 1974 are classified to section 2273, 2341, and 2371, respectively, of Title 19. Section 2371 of Title 19 was omitted from the Code as terminated Sept. 30, 1982. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
References in Text
note set out under section 2101 of Title 19 and Tables. section 305(b)(1) of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, referred to in subsecs. (e), (k)(2)(A), is classified to section 2515(b)(1) of Title 19. section 777 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsecs. (f), (j)(1)(C), is classified to section 1677f of Title 19. section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsec. (g), is classified to section 1641 of Title 19. section 499(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsec. (g)(3), is classified to section 1499(b) of Title 19. section 771(9) of the Tariff Act of 1930, referred to in subsec. (k)(1), is classified to section 1677(9) of Title 19.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 2631, acts
June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 980;
May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 122, 63 Stat. 106;
June 2, 1970, Pub. L. 91–271, title I, § 112, 84 Stat. 278; Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–618, title III, § 321(f)(2), 88 Stat. 2048, related to time for commencement of action, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–417. See section 2636 of this title.
Amendments
1993—Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 103–182 added par. (3). 1984—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 98–573, § 212(b)(3), amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (g) read as follows: “(1) A civil action to review any decision of the Secretary of the Treasury to deny or revoke a customhouse broker’s license under section 641(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person whose license was denied or revoked. “(2) A civil action to review any order of the Secretary of the Treasury to revoke or suspend a customhouse broker’s license under section 641(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 may be commenced in the Court of International Trade by the person whose license was revoked or suspended.” Subsec. (k)(2)(E). Pub. L. 98–573, § 612(b)(3), added subpar. (E).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by section 212(b)(3) of Pub. L. 98–573 effective on close of 180th day after Oct. 30, 1984, see section 214(d) of Pub. L. 98–573, set out as a note under section 1304 of Title 19, Customs Duties. Amendment by section 612(b)(3) of Pub. L. 98–573 applicable with respect to investigations initiated by petition or by the administering authority under subtitle A or B of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671 et seq., 1673 et seq.), and to reviews begun under section 751 of that Act (19 U.S.C. 1675), on or after Oct. 30, 1984, see section 626(b)(1) of Pub. L. 98–573, as amended, set out as a note under section 1671 of Title 19.
Effective Date
Chapter effective Nov. 1, 1980, unless otherwise provided, and applicable with respect to civil actions pending on or commenced on or after such date, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 96–417, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1980 Amendment note under section 251 of this title. Subsecs. (d) and (g) to (j) of this section applicable with respect to civil actions commenced on or after Nov. 1, 1980, see section 701(b)(1)(B) of Pub. L. 96–417. Application of 1993 AmendmentFor purposes of applying amendment by Pub. L. 103–182, any decision or order of Customs Service denying, suspending, or revoking accreditation of a private laboratory on or after Dec. 8, 1993, and before
Regulations
to implement 19 U.S.C. 1499(b) are issued to be treated as having been denied, suspended, or revoked under such section 1499(b), see section 684(b) of Pub. L. 103–182, formerly set out as a note under section 1581 of this title.
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 2631
Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73