Newly Released CBP HQ Rulings Jan. 7
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated on Jan. 7 with the following headquarters rulings (ruling revocations and modifications will be detailed elsewhere in a separate article as they are announced in the Customs Bulletin):
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
H346389: Protest and Application for Further Review No. 2704-25-171943; Classification of certain vehicle storage systems
| Ruling: CBP finds that the Westside XG Rail Station System is classified in Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 6307, subheading 6307.90.98, which provides for “Other made-up articles, including dress patterns: Other: Other: Other: Other…” The Westside Stored Energy Cargo Accessory System and XG Gama System are classified in heading 8708, subheading 8708.29.51, which provides for “Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705: Other parts and accessories of bodies (including cabs): Other: Other…” |
| Issue: Whether the subject vehicle storage systems are classified as other containers and cases, other made up articles, or other parts and accessories of motor vehicles. |
| Item: Westside Research's storage systems for vehicles: the Westside Stored Energy Cargo Accessory (SECA) system, the Westside XG Gama Storage System and the Westside XG Rail Station System |
| Reason: Based on a visual examination of the photographs provided in the protest, the manufacturer’s website, and the product’s user manual, it appears that the Westside XG Rail Station Systems are textile products. Upon examining the additional information provided by Protestant, as well as online resources, CBP concludes that the XG Rail System is substantially similar to the goods classified in HQ H312216 and should also be classified under heading 6307, subheading 6307.90.98. HQ H312216 pertained to backseat organizers from the trunk organizers. Meanwhile, the SECA and XG Gama Systems are both built-in options within the vehicle. They may not be purchased separately from the vehicle, and they are contoured to a specific model of the vehicle. As such, they are not merely containers of heading 4202, which may be carried in or with a vehicle, but rather components of a vehicle body. |
| Ruling Date: Oct. 28, 2025 |
H298116: Request for Further Review of Protest Number 4102-17-100682; Classification of a Drum-Type Cleaning Machine
| Ruling: By application of General Rules of Interpretation 1 (Note 3 to Section XVI), 6 and 3(c), the Drum-Type Cleaning Machine, Model RCTS, is provided for in heading 8479, and more specifically, subheading 8479.89.98, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S., as: “Machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter, parts thereof: Other machines and mechanical appliances: Other: Other.” |
| Issue: What is the classification of the drum-type cleaning machine? |
| Item: ZPS America's drum-type cleaning machine, Model RCTS |
| Reason: From the information submitted, it appears that the passivation or electro-chemical deburring cannot be accomplished without the required pre-cleaning being performed. Based on the information CBP has on the process and applying Note 3 to Section XVI at the six-digit subheading level, the product at issue has no principal function. When considering composite goods and two or more headings are under consideration and no one heading provides a principal function, the good is classified under the heading which occurs last in numerical order among those which merit equal consideration. A complete cleaning cycle varies according to the solvents used, e.g., clean/rinse/dry with passivation or clean/rinse/dry with electro-chemical deburring or passivation. Within heading 8479, passivation or electro-chemical deburring are arguably covered by subheading 8479.81 and cleaning would fall under the scope of subheading 8479.89. |
| Ruling Date: Nov. 4, 2025 |