October Term 2008 · Docket 07-1059
Does uranium enrichment count as a sale of goods?
The dispute centers on whether processing uranium constitutes a sale of merchandise under antidumping laws.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Stewart argued that the core issue is whether SWU contracts result in merchandise sales.
Ms. Halligan argued that the Commerce Department's position creates uncertainty across multiple industries.
Mr. Farr acknowledged that the transaction can be viewed reasonably in different ways.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if enriching uranium creates a sale of goods. The government argues this process is a sale. The company argues it is a service.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 4, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to classify enrichment as a sale of goods.
The company wants the Court to classify enrichment as a service.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
What each side says
The government argues that processing uranium results in merchandise sold in the United States.
The company argues that the transaction is a service, not a sale of goods.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked about the role of tollers and subcontractors in the process.
Chief Justice Roberts asked the advocate to articulate a precise legal test for the transaction type.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-49
Why it matters
This case defines how the law treats industrial processing services. It determines whether such services face antidumping duties. The outcome shapes trade rules for global manufacturing and processing industries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-49
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.