Author name: Arthur O'Meara

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How to Classify New or Unique Products with No Clear HTS Code

If you’re importing something cutting-edge, niche, or just plain weird, chances are you’ve stared at the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and thought: Where the hell does this go? You’re not alone. In fact, many importers dealing with innovative or hybrid products find themselves stuck in HTS purgatory. Their products are too specific for broad categories, too

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Tariffs written on a blank piece of paper

Top 5 Mistakes Importers Make When Classifying Their Products

If you’ve ever scrolled through the Harmonized Tariff Schedule with a mild sense of dread and a strong cup of coffee, you’re not alone. Product classification is where many importers go off the rails. Rookies and veterans alike find themselves in deep trouble when mistakes occur.  The stakes are high: misclassification can lead to tariff

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Customs officers checking cargo on a checklist

What Makes CBP’s “Reasonable Care” Standard So Unique?

Most U.S. compliance professionals know that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) expects importers to exercise reasonable care—but few realize just how unusual that concept is when compared to how other federal agencies handle mistakes and diligence. Let’s start with my working definition of “reasonable care.”  There are other definitions, but this is what I use

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HTS Classification for Modified Products: What Happens When Specs Change?

Nothing stays static for long in international trade. Not your products, not the market, and certainly not the way Customs views your shipments. So what happens when you tweak a product design, change a key component, or bundle in a new feature? Do you still get to use the same HTS code? Short answer: maybe

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How to Classify Products That Come in Sets under General Rule of Interpretation 3b

Sets (or kits, for the general public), represent a unique tariff classification challenge.  This is because they generally do not have an easily identifiable identity other than “just a box of stuff we sell to rebuild a motor” or make a meal (see below). If you’ve ever tried to assign an HTS code to a

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HTS Classification Audits: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Navigating the labyrinth of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification is no small feat. And when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) knocks on your door for an audit, it’s not exactly a friendly visit.  But before you start hiding under your desk or shredding paperwork (don’t do that), let’s break down what to expect

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Important document with a pen and an American flag

When You Need to Understand the “Why” Behind a Tariff Heading

Explanatory Notes: The Classification Resource You’re Probably Not Using There’s a reason some tariff classifications seem to defy logic. You’re staring at the HTS description, the Chapter Notes look right, and yet something doesn’t add up. The duty rate is higher than you expected, or worse, you’re facing a challenge from CBP. That missing piece

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