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Harmonized Tariff Schedule

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) provide classification provisions and duty rates for almost every item that exists. It is a system of classifying and taxing all goods imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is a global standard for naming and describing trade products, and consists of a hierarchical structure that assigns a specific code and rate to each type of merchandise for duty, quota, and statistical purposes. The HTS was made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States. It is maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission, but CBP is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS. 

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CAFC Says CIT Erred in Ruling That Planning Calendars Are Diaries
December 4, 2025 |Bulletin

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held on Dec. 4 that the Court of International Trade erred in ruling that importer Blue Sky the Color of Imagination's planning calendars are classified as diaries under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 4820.10.20.10. Judges Alan Lourie, William Bryson and Raymond Chen said the trade court violated the principle of stare decisis by going against the CAFC's 2002 ruling in Mead Corp. v. U.S., which interpreted the term "diary" as referring to "retrospective, not prospective" records. However, the Federal Circuit didn't settle on a final subheading for the products at issue, though it noted that the U.S. offered "some seemingly persuasive arguments" for why Blue Sky's goods fall under heading 4820 rather than under heading 4910 as calendars.

Topics:Court of International Trade activity, Tariff classification rulings, Court of Federal Appeals Trade activity, Country of origin cases
LCD Display Exporter Dismisses 7 Classification Cases
December 1, 2025 by Kathryn Nucci|Litigation

LCD display exporter Innolux Corporation moved Nov. 26 to dismiss seven cases against the United States. The cases argued that its automobile display monitors should have been classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings 8531.20.0020, 8528.59.2500 or 9013.80.7000, all duty-free, rather than under subheading 9013.80.9000, which carries a 4.5% duty (see 2404090042) (Innolux Corporation v. United States, CIT # 24-00065, -00167, -00168, -00169, -00170, -00171, -00172).

Topics:Court of International Trade activity
CIT Flips Its Customs Ruling on 'Parts of Parts' for Aircraft Brake Discs
November 28, 2025 by Jacob Kopnick|Top News

The Court of International Trade on Nov. 26 granted the government's motion for rehearing in a customs dispute on the classification of certain radial, web and chordal segments imported by Honeywell and used in airplane brakes, changing the classification of the parts to "fabrics" under Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 6307. Judge Mark Barnett reversed his previous holding that the goods are "parts of an aircraft" under heading 8803, subjecting the items at issue to a 7% duty under subheading 6307.90.98.

Topics:Court of International Trade activity, Tariff classification rulings, Country of origin cases