Imported Penrose drains are properly classified as tubes of vulcanized rubber under heading 4009 and not hygienic or pharmaceutical articles of vulcanized rubber under heading 4014, according to a CBP ruling dated Oct. 6 and released recently. The drains at issue are soft tubes made of vulcanized latex rubber varying in size from ¼ inch to 1 inch in diameter. Each drain is sterilized and sold individually to animal hospitals for use in surgical procedures, to allow fluids to drain out of the animal during the healing process.
Ben Perkins
Ben Perkins, Assistant Editor, is a reporter with International Trade Today and its sister publications, Trade Law Daily and Export Compliance Daily, where he covers sanctions, court rulings, and other international trade issues. He previously worked as a trade analyst for a Washington D.C. advisory firm. Ben holds a B.A. in English from the University of New Hampshire and an M.A. in International Relations from American University. Ben joined the staff of Warren Communications News in 2022.
Seventeen styles of fabrics are not excluded from 10% Section 301 duties because they do not qualify as microfibers or microdeniers, CBP said in a Sept. 8 ruling, recently released publicly.
CBP issued an internal guidance Nov. 7 on verifying bond amounts for Temporary Importation Under Bond (TIB) entries and requesting additional security under a Single Transaction Bond (STB) when a continuous bond is on file but is not sufficient to cover TIB requirements, the agency said in a Nov. 14 CSMS message.
In the Nov. 9 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 56, No. 44), CBP published a proposal to revoke rulings on wireless headphone sets.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The use of transaction value is inappropriate when there is insufficient documentation to prove bona fide sales, CBP ruled in HQ ruling H323585, dated Aug. 31.
Spirulina Blue Colour is a "binder for foundry molds" for tariff purposes rather than a microorganism or animal product, according to an Aug. 26 CBP headquarters ruling, HQ H324168. The product at issue is Spirulina Blue, a water-soluble, coloring powder that ranges from light greenish blue to dark blue. Made in China, it's sold to food manufacturers for use in the beverage, confectionary, dairy, nutraceutical and pet food industries, according to Calico Food Ingredient. The product is said to “enhance immunity” and have “anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects.” The powder originates with spirulina, a one-cell algae from which the blue color phycocyanin is extracted. The ingredients in the CA2786 Spirulina Blue Colour are composed of 50%-55% phycocyanin from China, 45%-50% trehalose from Japan, and 5% sodium citrate from China. The trehalose is meant to protect the protein and the sodium citrate is meant to adjust the PH and can protect the color.
The International Trade Commission issued a limited exclusion order barring from entry certain electrolyte-containing beverages and their associated labeling and packaging imported by eight Mexican companies (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1269).
The International Trade Commission issued a limited exclusion order on baseball and softball bats manufactured or imported by Proton Sports of Scottsdale, Arizona, and a cease and desist order against Proton, it said in a notice released Nov. 3.
Public interest comments are due to the International Trade Commission by Nov. 9 in a case concerning bio-layer interferometers, according to a Federal Register notice (ITC Docket No. 3652).