In December 1954, the League of Arab States called for an economic boycott of Israel. Under the "General Principles" worked out by the Arab states, a firm could be blacklisted if it traded with Israel.
The plaintiff manufactures internal combustion engines. Its products are often used as component parts. Briggs had been blacklisted because of dealings with Israel.
In May of 1977, Briggs received a letter from its Syrian distributor telling it that it had been blacklisted and refused an import license. He also received a questionnaire, which was translated as follows:
1. What is the purpose of the antiboycott regulations?
2. On what basis did the company challenge the act and regulations?
3. Should a company respond to a questionnaire like the one Briggs received here? What action should it take?