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Date: 20000517


Docket: A-323-97

CORAM:      DÉCARY J.A.

         LÉTOURNEAU J.A.

         NOËL J.A.


BETWEEN:

     EURO-LINE APPLIANCES

     Appellant

     (Plaintiff)

     - and -




     HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

     Respondent

     (Defendant)





Heard at Montreal, Quebec on Wednesday, May 17, 2000


Judgment delivered from the Bench at

Montreal, Quebec on Wednesday, May 17, 2000






REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:      NOËL J.A.




Date: 20000517


Docket: A-323-97

CORAM:      DÉCARY J.A.

         LÉTOURNEAU J.A.

         NOËL J.A.


BETWEEN:

     EURO-LINE APPLIANCES

     Appellant

     (Plaintiff)

     - and -



     HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

     Respondent

     (Defendant)


     REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

     (Delivered from the Bench at Montreal, Quebec

     on Wednesday, May 17, 2000)

NOËL J.A.

[1]      This appeal must fail. The Tribunal had the difficult task of distinguishing household-type from laundry-type machines under Tariff Item 8450.11.10 and Tariff Item 8450.11.20. It did not restrict its consideration to the end use as contended by the appellant. It also looked at the basic functions of the machine, its capacity and its performance. In the end, the Board concluded, and I quote:

The evidence in this case shows, in the Tribunal"s opinion, that the goods in issue are generally sold for household use. In this respect, the Tribunal refers to the testimony of the witnesses, the commercial invoices and the particular features of the machines. The goods in issue are commonly used as household machines and only rarely for commercial use, as their capacity, combined with the length of time for a wash cycle, would appear to make them unattractive for commercial purposes. Accordingly, the Tribunal is of the view that the goods in issue are household-type washing machines.1

[2]      Furthermore, in view of the wording of the Tariff as it then read, it was not inappropriate for the Board to hold in effect that laundry-type machines had to be construed as having a closer connection with commercial use than household-type machines.

[3]      The appeal will be dismissed with costs.

     "Marc Noël"

     J.A.

              FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

     Names of Counsel and Solicitors of Record

                            

DOCKET:                      A-323-97
STYLE OF CAUSE:                  EURO-LINE APPLIANCES

     Appellant

     - and -                  (Plaintiff)

                        

                         HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

Respondent

(Defendant)

DATE OF HEARING:              WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2000

PLACE OF HEARING:              MONTREAL, QUEBEC

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

OF THE COURT BY:              NOËL J.A.

Delivered from the Bench at Montreal, Quebec on Wednesday, May 17, 2000

APPEARANCES:                  Mr. Felipe Morales

                             For the Appellant

                                    

                         Ms. Elizabeth Richards

                        

                 For the Respondent
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:          Andre & Morales
                         Barristers & Solicitors

                         45 O"Connor Street, Suite 1540

                         Ottawa, Ontario

                         K1P 1A4

                        

                             For the Appellant
                         Morris Rosenberg
                         Deputy Attorney General of Canada
                         Ottawa, Ontario
                             For the Respondent
__________________

     1      Reasons for Decision, Appeal Book at p. 12.

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