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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N327736: The tariff classification of single and tandem supermarket checkout lane systems from China
| HTS: 9403.20.0086, 9903.88.03, free + 25%, “Other furniture and parts thereof: Other metal furniture: Other: Counters, lockers, racks, display cases, shelves, partitions and similar fixtures: Other.” |
| Item: A supermarket checkout lane system and a tandem supermarket checkout lane system. Each system includes a conveyor unit in a large, floor-standing housing but does not include a computer, scale, or cash-handling equipment. The articles are made primarily of steel and stainless steel. The systems are imported in multiple boxes on pallets but are "essentially pre-assembled" at the factory with minimal assembly required during installation. |
| Reason: The metal components impart the essential character of the supermarket checkout lane systems. |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N327873: The tariff classification of a boltless steel gondola shelving assembly from China
| HTS: 9403.20.0075, 9903.88.03, free + 25%, “Other furniture and parts thereof: Other metal furniture: Other: Counters, lockers, racks, display cases, shelves, partitions and similar fixtures: Boltless or press-fit steel shelving units prepackaged for sale as described in statistical note 2 to this chapter.” |
| Item: A symmetrical free-standing boltless retail store fixture with six shelves on either side. It is made of steel and, when fully assembled, measures approximately 96" (T) x 49" (L) x 38" (W). It is shipped unassembled. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N327877: The tariff classification of a TFT-LCD module with housing from Japan
| HTS: 8524.91.1000, free, “Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens: Other: Of liquid crystals: Flat panel display modules, other than flat panel display modules for articles of subheadings 8528.59, 8528.69, 8528.72 and 8528.73.” |
| Item: A thin film transistor liquid crystal display module with housing that is to be used in automobiles after importation to display speedometer, time, network, weather information, and other functions. The module contains a TFT-LCD module, and multiple TFT-LCD cells bonded to one large glass cover. The subject module incorporates polarizers, backlight, driver and control printed circuit board, and a flexible PCB for connection. The module has no components for converting video signals. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N327881: The classification of a lawn mower pulley from China
| HTS: 8483.50.9040, 9903.88.01, 9817.00.60, free, "Transmission shafts (including camshafts and crankshafts) and cranks; bearing housings, housed bearings and plain shaft bearings; gears and gearing; ball or roller screws; gear boxes and other speed changers, including torque converters; flywheels and pulleys, including pulley blocks; clutches and shaft couplings (including universal joints); parts thereof: Flywheels and pulleys, including pulley blocks: Other: Other: Grooved pulleys." |
| Item: A grooved pulley designed to transmit rotary power via a v-belt to lawn mower deck components, e.g., pulleys and spindles. The splined center hole and two side holes of the specifically shaped pulley are designed to mount to the shaft of a lawn mower spindle assembly. The pulley is marketed for use with commercial and residential lawn mowers: front mounted engine riding mowers, rear mounted engine riding mowers, stand-on mowers, zero-turn mowers, and sub-compact tractors with mower deck attachments. |
| Reason: The pulley satisfies the terms for duty-free treatment as agricultural or horticultural machinery, as long as actual use documentation is provided. |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N327886: The tariff classification of women’s blouses from Bangladesh
| HTS: (1)(2)(3) 6106.20.2010, 32%, "Women’s or girls’ blouses and shirts, knitted or crocheted: Of man-made fibers: Other: Women’s." |
| (4) 6106.10.0010, 19.7%, "Women’s or girls’ blouses and shirts, knitted or crocheted: Of cotton: Women’s." |
| Items: (1) A women’s blouse composed of 62 percent polyester, 33 percent viscose, 5 percent elastane jersey knit fabric that measures at least 10 or more stitches per linear centimeter measured in both directions. (2) A women’s blouse composed of 76 percent polyester, 19 percent rayon, 5 percent elastane jersey knit fabric that measures at least 10 or more stitches per linear centimeter measured in both directions. (3) A women’s blouse composed of 88 percent polyester, 12 percent elastane jersey knit fabric that measures at least 10 or more stitches per linear centimeter measured in both directions. (4) A women’s blouse composed of 67 percent cotton, 33 percent polyester, knit fleece fabric. The outer surface of the garment’s fabric that measures at least 10 or more stitches per linear centimeter measured in both directions. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N327897: The tariff classification of a Mega Block (MID) from South Korea
| HTS: 8907.90.0090, free, “Other floating structures (for example, rafts, tanks, cofferdams, landing-stages, buoys and beacons): Other: Other.” |
| Item: A Mega Block, which is the middle portion of the lower support structure of a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading oil production platform. The main function of the Mega Block (MID) is to float the FPSO platform, and to provide a space for oil storage and various mechanical devices. It is used as a floating structure for the FPSO platform in conjunction with the forward and the rear blocks, but the product under review can float in the condition as imported. The Mega Block consists of a hull deck, an appurtenance, and a fore castle deck. The article is made of steel and weighs 24,350 tons. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N327899: The tariff classification of metal brackets from China
| HTS: 8302.41.6080, 9903.88.03, 3.9% + 25%, "Base metal mountings, fittings and similar articles… Other mountings, fittings, and similar articles, and parts thereof: Suitable for buildings: Other: Of iron or steel, of aluminum or of zinc… Other." |
| Item: Three types of brackets, described as clamps, used to secure square and parallelogram-shaped glass panels on interior or exterior stairways and balconies. The brackets are made of 316 stainless steel and are designed to stabilize and join the glass panels in line. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N328043: The tariff classification of a ceramic decoration from China
| HTS: 6913.90.5000, 9903.88.15, 6% + 7.5%, “Statuettes and other ornamental ceramic articles: Other: Other: Other.” |
| Item: A ceramic heart designed for indoor decoration and is placed on a tabletop. You have indicated that the heart-shaped decoration is made of dolomite ceramic. The heart is pink in color and features the words “Be Mine” written in the center of the heart. The words illuminate when the batteries are turned on. The item operates on two “AA” batteries. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 13, 2022 |
N327820: The tariff classification of a shower grate from China
| HTS: 7419.80.5010, 9903.88.03, free + 25%, "Other articles of copper, other…brass plumbing goods not elsewhere specified or included." |
| Item: A nickel bronze shower grate that is used in shower areas to drain off the wastewater. The shower grate will be attached to the drain body with two screws. |
| Reason: The cast articles will be machined after completion of the casting process and before importation into the U.S. Therefore, the drain grate has been further worked and is advanced beyond the condition allowed for classification as a cast item. |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 12, 2022 |
N327871: The tariff classification of birdfeeders from China
| HTS: 7323.99.9080, 9903.88.03, 3.4% + 25%, "Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of iron or steel…other, other, not coated or plated with precious metal, other, other, other.” |
| Items: Bird feeders are predominately made from plastic and steel components and designed for outdoor use. |
| Reason: The steel and plastic bird feeders under consideration are both composite articles. The metal in the bird feeder that predominates by weight is steel. |
| Ruling Date: Sept. 12, 2022 |