CLA-2-94:OT:RR:NC:N4:433
Scott Leonard
HSN
1 HSN Drive
St. Petersburg, FL 33729
RE: The tariff classification of seats from China.
Dear Mr. Leonard:
In your letter dated June 8, 2020, you requested a tariff classification ruling. We received product literature and pictures.
Item 1, the “Savoy Backless Stool,” is an armless stool-seat that will be padded, upholstered, and affixed to a rubberwood frame for the seating of a single individual. The stool-seat is counter height, of which 19.49” in length exist from the floor to the seat base. A wooden footrest is located at the base of the frame. The stool-seat dimensions are 17” in width, 17” in depth, 26” in height, and weighs 20 lbs. The stool-seat will be wrapped in leather or of performance fabric.
Item 2, the “Savoy Backless Stool,” is an armless stool-seat that will be padded, upholstered, and affixed to a rubberwood frame for the seating of a single individual. The stool-seat is bar height, of which 25.39” in length exist from the floor to the seat base. A wooden footrest is located at the base of the frame. The stool-seat dimensions are 17” in width, 17” in depth, 30” in height, and weighs 21 lbs. The stool-seat will be wrapped in leather or of performance fabric.
You request classification of the subject merchandise in subheading 9401.61.4011, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, (HTSUS), and confirmation that the articles are not subject to China Section 301 duties.
The applicable subheading for each item will be 9401.61.4011, HTSUS, which provides for “Seats (other than those of heading 9402), whether or not convertible into beds, and parts thereof: Other seats, with wooden frames: Upholstered: Chairs: Other: Other household.” The rate of duty will be free.
TRADE REMEDY
Products of China classified under subheading 9401.61.4011, HTSUS, unless specifically excluded, are subject to the additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty. See U.S. Note 20 to Subchapter III, Chapter 99, HTSUS.
With regard to the applicability of exclusions from the additional duties pursuant to Section XXII, Chapter 99, Subchapter III U.S. Note 20(g), HTSUS, we note the exclusions annotated in the December 17, 2019 Federal Register are available for any product that meets the description in the Annex, regardless of whether the importer filed an exclusion request. Section XXII, Chapter 99, Subchapter III U.S. Note 20(oo) and Annex Enumeration (38), HTSUS, states:
(oo) The U.S. Trade Representative determined to establish a process by which particular
products classified in heading 9903.88.03 and provided for in U.S. notes 20(e) and 20(f) to this subchapter could be excluded from the additional duties imposed by heading 9903.88.03, and by which particular products classified in heading 9903.88.04 and provided for in U.S. note 20(g) to this subchapter could be excluded from the additional duties imposed by heading 9903.88.04. Pursuant to the product exclusion process, the U.S. Trade Representative has determined that the additional duties provided for in heading 9903.88.03 or in heading 9903.88.04 shall not apply to the following particular products, which are provided for in the enumerated statistical reporting number: (38) Upholstered dining chairs, with a wooden frame, other than of teak (described in statistical reporting number 9401.61.4011).
Based on the facts you provided in your ruling request, the subject merchandise falls under the scope of item (38) above. At the time of importation, you must report the Chapter 99 subheading, i.e., 9903.88.36, in addition to subheading 9401.61.4011, HTSUS, listed above.
The HTSUS is subject to periodic amendment so you should exercise reasonable care in monitoring the status of goods covered by the Note cited above and the applicable Chapter 99 subheading. For background information regarding the trade remedy initiated pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, you may refer to the relevant parts of the USTR and CBP websites, which are available at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforcement/section-301-investigations/tariff-actions and https://www.cbp.gov/trade/remedies/301-certain-products-china, respectively.
Duty rates are provided for your convenience and are subject to change. The text of the most recent HTSUS and the accompanying duty rates are provided on the World Wide Web at https://hts.usitc.gov/current.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. § 177).
A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Dharmendra Lilia at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Steven A. Mack
Director
National Commodity Specialist Division