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HQ 085493


September 22, 1989

CLA-2 CO:R:C:G 085493 CMR

CATEGORY: CLASSIFICATION

TARIFF NO.: 6305.20.0000

Patrick Gill, Esq.
Rode & Qualey
295 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017

RE: Reconsideration of HRL 084519 of May 18, 1989

Dear Mr. Gill:

This ruling is in response to your submission of May 26, 1989, requesting reconsideration of HRL 084519 of May 18, 1989. In that ruling, Customs classified cotton money bags under subheading 6305.20.0000, HTSUSA, which provides for sacks and bags, of a kind used for the packing of goods.

FACTS:

The merchandise at issue is a 100 percent cotton bag measuring approximately 18" by 12" and open at one end. It is manufactured in the People's Republic of China and is used by banks for transporting coins, checks and currency.

NYRL 836656 of March 1, 1989, classified the money bag in subheading 4202.92.6000, HTSUSA, which provides for trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, etc., and similar containers, other, other, of cotton. In HRL 084519 of May 18, 1989, Customs reconsidered the classification decision in NYRL 836656. It was determined that that ruling was in error and that the correct classification of the subject money bag was subheading 6305.20.0000, HTSUSA, which provides for sacks and bags, of a kind used for the packing of goods, of cotton.

You are requesting that Customs reconsider HRL 084519, claiming that the money bag should be classified in subheading 6307.90.90, HTSUSA, as an other made up article, other.

ISSUE:

Was the subject money bag properly classified in HRL 084519 in subheading 6305.20.0000, HTSUSA, as a cotton sack or bag, of a kind used for the packing of goods?

LAW AND ANALYSIS:

We have reviewed your submission, as well as your previous submissions, regarding the classification of the subject money bag. Your most recent submission failed to add anything new to your argument. We find no basis for concluding that the classification of the money bag in HRL 084519 is incorrect.

While you are correct that the Explanatory Notes, which are the official interpretation of the HTSUS at the international level, are not legally binding, they do provide guidance in the classification of merchandise. Indeed, you relied heavily on the Explanatory Notes in your submission of May 5, 1989, when arguing that heading 4202 was not the correct heading for the classification of the money bag.

Although the article at issue may have been classified in the Tariff Schedules of the United States in an item number that did not carry a quota category, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is a different tariff system. Customs and importers must expect that some changes are bound to occur in converting from one system to another.

HOLDING:

The cotton money bag at issue was properly classified in HRL 084519 in subheading 6305.20.0000, HTSUSA, as a cotton sack or bag, of a kind used for the packing of goods.

The designated textile and apparel category may be subdivided into parts. If so, the visa and quota requirements applicable to the subject merchandise may be affected. Since part categories are the result of international bilateral agreements which are subject to frequent renegotiations and changes, to obtain the most current
information available, we suggest you check, close to the time of shipment, the Status Report On Current Import Quotas (Restraint Levels), an internal issuance of the U.S. Customs Service, which is updated weekly and is available for inspection at your local Customs office.

Due to the changeable nature of the statistical annotation (the ninth and tenth digits of the classification) and the restraint (quota/visa) categories, you should contact your local Customs office prior to importation of this merchandise to determine the current status of any import restraints or requirements.

Sincerely,

Harvey B. Fox
Director, Office of

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