Recent CBP NY Rulings
The following are short summaries of recent CBP NY rulings issued by the agency's National Commodity Specialist Division in New York:
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N338784: Country of origin determination for a bathmat; 19 CFR 102.21(c)(2)
| Country of Origin: Vietnam |
| Item: A gray bathmat consisting of an upper surface of knitted polyester fabric of cut pile construction. The knitted fabric is laminated to a layer of foam approximately 1/2-inch thick and is backed with a non-skid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated polyester fabric. In China the polyester yarns are formed, the knitted binding fabric is formed, and the polyester coated with PVC is formed. In Vietnam the foam is formed, and the fabric, foam and PVC coated polyester are laminated together |
| Reason: As all the materials incorporated into the bathmat undergo a tariff shift in a single country, Vietnam, the country of origin is conferred in Vietnam. |
| Ruling Date: April 9, 2024 |
N339336: The tariff classification of a plastic kitchen drawer organizer from China
| HTS: 3924.10.4000, 3.4%, “Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and hygienic or toilet articles, of plastics: Tableware and kitchenware: Other.” |
| Item: A kitchen drawer organizer. The article is placed in the kitchen drawer to hold and store kitchen utensils and cutlery. The plastic drawer organizer contains eight compartments, with two expandable panels on each side of the organizer. The drawer organizer can be adjusted in size. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: April 10, 2024 |
N339293: The tariff classification of a plastic box from China
| HTS: 3924.90.5650, 9903.88.15, 3.4% + 7.5%, “Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and hygienic or toilet articles, of plastics: Tableware and kitchenware: Other: Other … Other.” |
| Item: A faux leather box. The blue square-shaped plastic container contains two zippers, and a polystyrene mirror is located inside the box. The name Neocutis is written on the box. The plastic container will be imported empty. The plastic container is for household use and will hold skincare products. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: April 10, 2024 |
N339195: The tariff classification of an Auxiliary Steering Gearbox from Mexico
| HTS: 8708.94.5000, 2.5%, “Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705: Other parts and accessories: Steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes; parts thereof: Steering wheels, steering columns and steering boxes: For other vehicles” |
| Item: The auxiliary steering gearbox is a part of the steering system that transfers the rotational motion of the steering wheel through the steering column through various linkages, including the hydraulically assisted primary steering gearbox mounted on the driver side frame rail, moving the front wheels left and right, thus steering the vehicle. Both the primary and the auxiliary steering gearboxes are designed for and used solely or principally in heavy-duty trucks, which are designed to bear heavy front-axle loads, requiring additional steering force to turn the axle. This is achieved by using a secondary (auxiliary) hydraulically assisted steering gearbox mounted on the passenger side frame rail. |
| Reason: The auxiliary steering gearbox isn't a hydraulic motor of heading 8412. |
| Ruling Date: April 10, 2024 |
N339115: The tariff classification of a RJ45 plug from China
| HTS: 8536.69.8000, 9903.88.03, 2.7% + 25%, “Electrical apparatus…for making connections to or in electrical circuits…: Lamp-holders, plugs and sockets: Other: Other.” |
| Item: The RJ45 CAT6 Shielded Plug with Strain Relief is described as a clear polycarbonate electrical plug body having eight electrical contact pins, a brass strain relief, a plastic load bar and a pair separator. This CAT6 plug is placed on the prepared end of a telecommunications cable and crimped to provide an electrical connection. No cable or wire is attached to the plug, which is said to be imported in bags of 50. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: April 10, 2024 |
N339062: The country of origin of a wireless mouse
| Country of Origin: Vietnam |
| Item: The Wireless Mouse is described as a wireless input device for use with automatic data processing (ADP) machines. The mouse consists of a plastic body shell, actuating buttons and a scroll wheel. Internally, the mouse incorporates a printed circuit board assembly that controls the input operations of the unit and communicates with the connected ADP machine. The mouse is packaged in a retail box along with preinstalled batteries and a USB wireless receiver, which is stowed inside a slot in the mouse body until ready for use. The PCBA is manufactured in Vietnam by a surface mount process of electronic components and switches onto a bare printed circuit board. Also in Vietnam, the PCBA is inserted into the Vietnamese origin plastic body, wires are attached, the mouse is tested, inspected, subsequently packaged in a retail box for export to the U.S. |
| Reason: The assembly of the PCBA in Vietnam by soldering the individual components and switches onto a bare board results in a substantial transformation of those components to produce a PCBA of Vietnamese origin. |
| Ruling Date: April 10, 2024 |
N338911: The tariff classification of a molded plastic cooler from Cambodia
| HTS: 4202.12.2120, 20%, "trunks, suitcases, and similar containers: with outer surface of plastics: structured, rigid on all sides." |
| Item: The “Patio Cooler on the Go” is a hard-sided plastic cooler with an optional wheeled cart. The cooler is constructed of molded plastic. It isn't covered or coated with another material on the outer surface. The cooler is structured and rigid on all sides. It features one handle on each side and two latches to secure the lid. It also features a bin, a divider and a removable light. The article is designed to provide storage, protection, portability, and organization to food and beverages while traveling. |
| Reason: The essential character is imparted by the cooler. |
| Date: April 10, 2024 |
N339023: The tariff classification of a women’s knit blouse and top from China
| HTS: (1) 6106.20.2010, 9903.88.15, 32% + 25%, "Women’s or girls’ blouses and shirts, knitted or crocheted: Of man-made fibers: Other: Women’s." (2) 6114.20.0010; 9903.88.15, 10.8% + 25%, “Other garments, knitted or crocheted: Of cotton: Tops: Women’s or girls’.” |
| Item: (1) A women’s blouse. The loose-fitting garment extends from the shoulders to below the waist and features a V-styled front neckline with a self-fabric tie closure, three-fourth length sleeves with an unfinished, two-tiered fabric covered, elasticized bottom, embroidery at the sleeves and at the lower portion front of the garment, two rows of gathered stitches at the waist, and an unfinished bottom. (2) A camisole-styled top. The sleeveless loose-fitting garment extends from the top of the bust to below the waist and features a scoop front neckline, self-fabric capping along the neckline, underarms and at the back, elasticized, adjustable shoulder straps measuring approximately one-half inches in width, and a hemmed, flared bottom. The garment's upper back extends straight across from side seam to side seam, exposing the back's upper half. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: April 11, 2024 |
N338985: The tariff classification and country of origin of a ballistic chronograph
| HTS: 9031.49.9000, free, “Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter; profile projectors; parts and accessories thereof: Other optical instruments and appliances: Other: Other.” |
| Item: The NateChrony is a ballistic chronograph that is attached to the barrel of an air rifle (non-powder burning devices) to measure the velocity of the projectile. The chronograph is either screwed on, if the barrel is threaded, or clamped on, if it is an unthreaded barrel. The device is powered via a USB cable from a separately imported USB power bank or portable device. The data collected from the NateChrony is used to measure pellet speed as well as calculate trajectory information, and is displayed via website on a connected device. Additional information includes minimum speed and power, maximum speed and power, average speed and power, spread of speed and power, and standard deviation of speed and power. The device provides measurements in both metric and imperial units including feet per second (meters per second), foot pounds (joules), and grains (grams). The chronograph contains two infrared photologic sensors at each end of the device that include multiple electronic components packed into the single integrated sensor. The sensor has a photodiode with additional processing circuits to enable it to act as an electrical switch that is triggered by infrared. In operation, the pellet passes through the first sensor, which will detect the pellet, and measures the time it takes to get to the second sensor before providing the calculations. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: April 11, 2024 |
N338917: The tariff classification of two woven upholstery fabrics from China
| HTS: (1) 5407.73.2060, 9903.88.03, 8.5% + 25%, "Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, including woven fabrics obtained from materials of heading 5404: Other woven fabrics, containing 85 percent or more by weight of synthetic filaments: Of yarns of different colors: Other: Weighing more than 170 g/m2." (2) 5407.93.2090, 9903.88.03, 12% + 25%, "Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, including woven fabrics obtained from materials of heading 5404: Other woven fabrics: Of yarns of different colors: Other: Other: Other: Other." |
| Item: (1) A woven fabric of yarns of different colors featuring a plaid design pattern. The fabric is of other dobby weave construction and is composed wholly of polypropylene/olefin textured filament yarns. The fabric has an acrylic coating applied to the reverse side of the fabric; however, this coating isn't visible to the naked eye. (2) A woven fabric of yarns of different colors featuring a dotted design pattern. The fabric is of jacquard weave construction and is composed wholly of polyester. The fabric has an acrylic latex backing; however, this coating isn't visible to the naked eye. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: April 11, 2024 |