May 20 CBP Bulletin Proposes to Revoke Ruling on Sonos Wireless Speakers
In the May 20 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 54, No. 19), CBP published notices that propose to revoke rulings and similar treatment for wireless speakers.
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Comments on Proposals Due June 19
CBP said consideration will be given to any written comments received by June 19 before taking this action. In addition, any party that has received a ruling or decision on the merchandise that is subject to the proposed revocations or modifications, or any party involved with a substantially identical transaction, should advise CBP by the date that written comments on the proposed ruling are due. (An importer's failure to advise CBP of such rulings, decisions or substantially identical transactions may raise issues of reasonable care on the part of the importer or its agents for importations subsequent to the effective date of the final decision in this notice.)
Proposals
CBP is proposing to revoke or modify the rulings below, and any rulings on these products that may exist but have not been specifically identified. CBP is also proposing to revoke any treatment it has previously accorded to substantially identical transactions.
Wireless Speakers
| Item: Sonos speakers |
| Current: 8517.62.0050, Free, “Other apparatus for transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, including apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network (such as a local or wide area network): Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus: Other.” |
| Proposed: 8518.22.00, Free but subject to Section 301 tariffs, “Machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter; parts thereof; Other machines and mechanical appliances: Other: Other: Other.” |
| Reason: Where the principal function of a device such as a loudspeaker is not to connect to the source of a signal, but rather to convert such signal into sound, such a device functions as a loudspeaker of heading 8518. CBP's previous classifications didn't take into consideration the loudspeaker functions. |
| Proposed for revocation: NY N194496 (December 28, 2011), NY N083076 (November 19, 2009) and NY N234397 (November 15, 2012) |
| Proposed new ruling: HQ H310177 |