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Harmonized Tariff Schedule

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) provide classification provisions and duty rates for almost every item that exists. It is a system of classifying and taxing all goods imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is a global standard for naming and describing trade products, and consists of a hierarchical structure that assigns a specific code and rate to each type of merchandise for duty, quota, and statistical purposes. The HTS was made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States. It is maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission, but CBP is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS. 

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CBP Says Ice Packs Sold With Textile Covers Are Composite Goods
November 4, 2019 by Tim Warren|Top News

Ice bags that are sold with textile covers that protect users from ice burns are classifiable based on the textile covers, CBP said in a Sept. 16 ruling. The agency's ruling was in response to a request for reconsideration of a 2017 ruling from Precept Medical Products (see 1801110012). Precept, which was represented by Kevin Williams of Clark Hill, said the ice bags should not be classified as composite goods.

ITC Issues Revision 16 of 2019 HTS With GSP Changes, New 301 Exclusions
November 1, 2019 by Brian Feito|Top News

The International Trade Commission issued Revision 16 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Changes in the new edition that take effect Nov. 1 include the restoration of eligibility of many Ukrainian goods for the Generalized System of Preferences, as well as implementation of the results of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2019 GSP product review, which also requires minor changes to tariff subheadings for certain plywood. A new set of exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on products from China are also added to the tariff schedule.

Topics:Section 301 tariff exclusions, Harmonized Tariff Schedule, Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
De Minimis, CNL Waivers Granted Under GSP
October 28, 2019 |USTR

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released the results of its 2019 Generalized System of Preferences product review. Changes, which take effect Nov. 1, include new GSP eligibility for orchids from Thailand and certain types of plywood from Indonesia. USTR denied petitions to remove polyethylene terephthalate from Pakistan from GSP eligibility, as well as a competitive needs limitation (CNL) waiver for stearic acid from Indonesia, which will now be ineligible for GSP. USTR also said that subheading 8702.10.21, for motor vehicles with diesel engine, to transport 16 or more persons, from North Macedonia will also be ineligible for GSP after exceeding CNL import limits.

Topics:Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
Federal Circuit Denies Bid for Rehearing in Ford Transit Tariff Engineering Case
October 28, 2019 |Penalties and Courts

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently denied a petition from Ford Motor Company to reconsider its recent decision that Ford Transit passenger vans converted into cargo vans post-importation are nonetheless classified in the tariff schedule as cargo vans (see 1906070061). Trade groups had criticized the June 7 ruling in briefs filed in support of Ford’s rehearing requests, arguing that the Federal Circuit’s consideration of the van’s use after importation upends a century of precedent on the current tariff classification scheme, and results in confusion for importers (see 1908070066). Ford’s lawyer did not immediately comment on the company’s next steps.

Recent ITC Revisions to Tariff Schedule Implement Solar Safeguard and Section 301 Changes, New EU Tariffs
October 25, 2019 by Brian Feito|Top News

The International Trade Commission has issued Revision 15 to the 2019 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The only substantive change from the previous HTS edition is the removal of an exemption from solar cells safeguard duties for double-sided solar panels, as announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in early October (see 1910080054).

Topics:Section 301 tariff exclusions, Harmonized Tariff Schedule, Customs duty
New AD/CV Duties Requested on Forged Steel Fittings From India, South Korea
October 24, 2019 |AD/CV - Patent

A domestic manufacturer and labor union filed petitions on Oct. 22 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duty investigations on forged steel fittings from India and South Korea, and new countervailing duties on the same product from India. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on forged steel fittings that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. The petition was filed by Bonney Forge Corporation and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW).

Topics:Section 301 tariff exclusions, Customs duty