BOR-4-07-CO-R-IT-C 113041 GOB
Regina Hamilton
Controller
Raymond Industrial Equipment Ltd.
P.O. Box 1325
Brantford, Ontario, Canada N3T 5T6
RE: Instruments of International Traffic; 19 U.S.C. 1322; 19 CFR
10.41a.
Dear Ms. Hamilton:
This is in response to your letter dated March 9, 1994, which
requested that certain items be designated as instruments of
international traffic within the meaning of 19 CFR 10.41a.
By letter dated May 20, 1994 additional information with respect
to the items was provided to Customs.
FACTS:
The items are described as follows:
1. 22 Piston/Ram Pans - wooden crates or shipping
containers are placed inside these items to reduce movement; eight
to ten feet in length; stackable; grey in color; of steel
construction.
2. Six Carts (also known as "Beanie Carts") - used to
transport electrical merchandise; approximately ten feet in length;
on wheels; black in color; of steel construction.
3. Five Steel Modules - used to transport electrical
merchandise; four feet wide, slightly less than seven feet high;
with shelves; with three sides screened above the bottom three
feet; on wheels; black in color; of steel construction.
4. 16 Motor Tables or Stands (also known as "Bulldog
Carts") - five feet in length; stackable; 13 black and three yellow
in color; of steel construction.
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5. 16 Box Sides/Wooden Crates or Skids with Wrappers -
pallets/skids with sides to transport pre-assembled kits; 42
inches by 36 inches by 16 inches; stackable; of wood construction.
ISSUE:
Whether the subject items may be designated as instruments of
international traffic within the meaning of 19 U.S.C. 1322(a) and
19 CFR 10.41a.
LAW AND ANALYSIS:
19 U.S.C. 1322(a) states in part:
Vehicles and other instruments of international traffic, of
any class specified by the Secretary of the Treasury, shall
be excepted from the application of the customs laws to such
extent and subject to such terms and conditions as may be
prescribed in regulations or instructions of the Secretary
of the Treasury.
The Customs Regulations issued under the authority of 19
U.S.C. 1322 are contained in 19 CFR 10.41a. 19 CFR 10.41a(a)(1)
designates lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets,
caul boards, and cores for textile fabrics as instruments for
international traffic.
19 CFR 10.41a(a)(1) also authorizes the Commissioner of
Customs to designate as instruments of international traffic such
additional articles or classes of articles as he shall find should
be so designated. Instruments so designated may be released
without entry or the payment of duty, subject to the provisions of
19 CFR 10.41a. Instruments so designated are also stated to be
duty-free in subheading 9803.00.50, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States.
To qualify as an instrument of international traffic within
the meaning of 19 U.S.C. 1322(a) and 19 CFR 10.41a, an article must
be used as a container or holder; the article must be substantial,
suitable for and capable of repeated use, and used in significant
numbers in international traffic. See Headquarters decisions
108084, 108658, 109665, and 109702.
After a review of the information submitted, we determine that
all of the items listed above are not to be designated as
instruments of international traffic because they are not used in
significant numbers in international traffic.
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HOLDING:
The subject items are not designated as instruments of
international traffic within the meaning of 19 U.S.C. 1322(a) and
19 CFR 10.41a because they are not used in significant numbers in
international traffic.
Sincerely,
Arthur P. Schifflin
Chief