Nix v. Hedden one of the first companies to ship produce from Virginia, Florida, and Bermuda to New York. In 1883, President Chester A. Arthur signed the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883, requiring a tax to be paid on imported vegetables, but not fruit. The John Nix & Co. company filed a suit against Edward L. Hedden, Collector of the Port of New York, to recover back duties paid under protest. They argued against the tariff by pointing out that, botanically, a tomato is a fruit due to its seed-bearing structure growing from the flowering part of a plant. At the trial,
European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs The Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs is a member of the European Commission. The current commissioner is Pierre Moscovici. Until 2014 the post was named "Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud" and was previously divided prior to 2010, with audit being under control of the Commissioner for Administrative Affairs. The post was abolished in 2014, when the Juncker Commission merged the post with that of the Economic and Financial Affairs portfolio. The post is responsible for the EU's customs union and taxation policy.