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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N349952: The tariff classification of a plastic specimen container from South Korea.
| HTS: 3926.90.9910, 9903.01.25, 5.3% + 10%, “Other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings 3901 to 3914: Other: Other: Laboratory ware.” |
| Item: A specimen container, which consists of a larger collection cup and a smaller detachable specimen tube. The cup and tube are molded from polypropylene plastic and the cup and tube caps are molded from high-density polyethylene plastic. The item is designed for collection, transportation, processing and examination of urine samples in hospitals and medical laboratories. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N349961: The tariff classification of a plastic extension handle from Germany
| HTS: 3926.90.2500, 9903.01.25, 6.5% + 10%, “Other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings 3901 to 3914: Other: Handles and knobs, not elsewhere specified or included, of plastics.” |
| Item: A grooming accessory intended for manual back shaving. It is an extension handle made from waterproof polylactic acid (PLA) plastic that is produced via 3D printing. This handle measures approximately 26 centimeters long and is designed to hold standard cartridge razors with a handle diameter of approximately 18 millimeters. The razor is inserted into a flexible adapter ring made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) plastic at the end of the extension and held in place by a wedge-shaped grip. This product does not contain any electrical components or mechanical features. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350050: The country of origin of three oven lamps
| Origin: China |
| Item: The merchandise under consideration is referred to as Item 1 Wall Oven Lamp, Item 2 Wall Oven Lamp and Item 3 Apex Lamp. The Oven Wall Lamps in Item 1 and Item 2 are highly similar in construction except for the shape of the light head (housing). Each of these oven lamps consists of a glass lens, a metal housing containing a socket, a light bulb and electrical wires with plug or connector at either end. Additionally, Item 2 also has a metal clip. The Apex Lamp (Item 3) consists of a glass lens, metal case (housing), metal pin, light bulb and a socket with two pins for connection to a power supply. All of the components are of Chinese origin. The components are shipped to Thailand and assembled into the finished lamps. |
| Reason: All the components of the lamps are of Chinese origin. The components are imported into Thailand where they are assembled into the finished oven lamps. The components do not undergo a physical change, nor do they change in character as a result of the assembly operations in Thailand. The components have a pre-determined end-use as parts and components of the lamps at the time of importation into Thailand and do not undergo a change in use due to assembly process in Thailand. Although certain operations such as laser welding might be complex in some circumstances, the nature of the assembly process for each of the lamps in Thailand is not sufficiently complex or meaningful as to constitute a substantial transformation. The manufacturing process in Thailand does not create a new and different article of commerce with a distinct character and use that is not inherent in the components imported into Thailand. |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350089: The tariff classification of a plastic drain cover from China
| HTS: 3926.90.9989, 9903.01.24; 9903.01.25; 9903.88.15, 5.3% + 20% + 10% + 7.5%, “Other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings 3901 to 3914: Other: Other: Other.” |
| Item: The product under consideration is described as a sink drain cover. It functions as a strainer preventing larger objects from flowing into the plumbing and as a stopper which blocks the water from going down the drain allowing the water to build up. This cover is made from silicone plastic. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350176: The country of origin of an EV fuse
| Origin: China |
| Item: The subject device comprises a silver strip and Quartz sand encased within a porcelain tube. The fuse is primarily used within EVs to act as passive backup protection for various electrical systems within the vehicle. When too much current passes through the silver strip within the device, excessive heat is generated. This heat melts the strip, which breaks the circuit and ceases electrical flow through the system. The manufacturing process occurs in Thailand. This process begins with a Chinese silver strip being bent and crimped before it is placed within the porcelain tube, also of Chinese origin. The tube is then filled with Quartz sand that originates from Germany before the finished device is sealed, marked with product information, and packaged for shipment to the U.S. |
| Reason: The silver strip imparts the character of the finished device as it is the essential electrical component. Further, the process performed in Thailand is simple in nature and does not substantially transform the Chinese components into new and different articles of commerce. |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350273: The tariff classification of Hydrating Body Wash from Vietnam
| HTS: 3401.30.5000, 9903.01.25, free + 10%, “Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap: Other.” |
| Item: The product is in liquid form and intended to be used as a soap for washing the skin. The product will be marketed and sold as a body wash, packaged for retail sale in a disposable plastic bottle with a dispensing pump. The body wash is infused with essential oils to deliver a rich lather to gently cleanse, refresh, and hydrate skin. The Hydrating Body Wash contains sodium laureth sulfate (a surface-active-agent), and several other ingredients. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350480: The country of origin of Venetian blinds
| Origin: Vietnam |
| Item: Aluminum Venetian mini blinds to be used as window coverings. At importation, the assembled Venetian blinds contain several components including aluminum slats, aluminum head and bottom rails, cordless mechanisms for opening and closing the blinds, a wand for adjusting the angle of the blinds, and mounting hardware such as metal brackets and screws. The aluminum slats are slit from aluminum coil and painted in China. Furthermore, a non-visible metal spring component of the cordless mechanism is made in China. In Vietnam, the aluminum head and bottom rails are extruded and shaped, and the plastic components of the cordless mechanism box are assembled with the non-visible metal spring from China. In addition, the metal brackets, plastic mounting components, screws, and packing materials are all made in Vietnam. All assembly takes place in Vietnam. After the cordless mechanism is assembled, it is inserted with operating components inside the headrail. Then, the ladder component, which holds the aluminum slats in place, is tied to both the head and bottom rails. At that point, the aluminum slats are placed into the ladder, and the wand is attached to the head rail. Finally, the assembled Venetian mini blind is labeled, packaged together in a cardboard box with the mounting hardware and ready for export from Vietnam. |
| Reason: The manufacturing and assembly operations performed in Vietnam substantially transform the aluminum slats, aluminum head and bottom rails, cordless mechanism, mounting hardware, and other components into an article of commerce with a new name, character, and use. |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350537: The tariff classification of calendars from China
| HTS: 4910.00.4000, 9903.01.22; 9903.01.31; 9903.01.32; 9903.88.15, free + 7.5%, “Calendars of any kind, printed, including calendar blocks: Printed on paper or paperboard in whole or in part by a lithographic process: Over 0.51 mm in thickness.” |
| Item: Calendars in five different styles, each printed on paper. The first is a wall calendar measuring 610mm long by 305mm wide when open. There is a picture on every other page and a month grid on the facing page. The second is a size A3 calendar measuring 420mm long by 297mm wide. The calendar is spiral bound and has a photo and month grid on each page. The third is a calendar block measuring 150mm long by 120mm wide, with tear-away pages for each day. The fourth is a “week to view” calendar. It measures 305mm wide by 305mm long, is spiral bound, and each page has a week shown. The fifth, a “Deluxe” calendar, measures 610mm long by 305mm wide when open, and has a picture on every other page and a month grid on the facing page. All of the calendars are printed by means of offset lithography. Each is over 0.51mm in thickness. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350696: The tariff classification of modular building components from Canada
| HTS: 7616.99.5190, 9903.85.07; 9903.01.33, 2.5% + 50%, “Other articles of aluminum: Other: Other: Other: Other: Other: Other.” |
| Item: Modular building components used exclusively in the motion picture industry. They are used by grips in the film and television industry for setting up and rigging camera equipment. The products are constructed from extruded aluminum tubes which are machined and assembled in Canada. |
| Reason: N/A |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |
N350720: The country of origin of a 4-way cross wrench
| Origin: Vietnam |
| Item: A 4-way cross wrench, also referred to as a 4-way lug wrench. It is a steel hand tool used to loosen, tighten, or remove lug nuts on wheels. The tool is designed in a cross-like shape with four different socket sizes on its ends. The manufacturing process for the 4-way cross wrench begins in Vietnam, where carbon steel is cut into the two cross bars of the wrench. The final sizes of the hexagonal sockets are then hot stamped into the ends of each bar. The two cross bars are sent to China, where they are further milled, engraved with the socket measurements, heat-treated and polished. Finally, the cross bars are welded together at their center and powder coated. |
| Reason: The carbon steel is substantially transformed in Vietnam into the two 20 inch long cross bars of the wrench, along with the final shape and size of the four hexagonal socket ends. These two bars, with the socket ends, provide the principal characteristics of the finished 4-way cross wrench, are dedicated for use as such, and cannot be used for any other purpose. Based on the assembly operations performed in China, the 4-way cross wrench is not substantially changed so as to transform it into a new article with a different name, character, or use. |
| Ruling Date: July 2, 2025 |