International Trade Today is a Warren News publication.
Subscriber Login

ITC's Final Report on Proposed HTS Changes for 2012 (Part 7: Ch. 64-96)

June 17, 2011 by Elizabeth Parker|Top News

The International Trade Commission has issued a final report in connection with its investigation of proposed 2012 WCO-recommended modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, pursuant to section 1205 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 19881. This is Part 7 of a series of summaries of these proposed modifications, and covers changes to Chapters 64-96.

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.

Start My Free Preview

(These WCO-recommended HTS changes, which are intended to be rate-neutral, are scheduled to take effect via proclamation on January 1, 2012; however, they can take effect no sooner than 30 days after the proclamation is published in the Federal Register.)

Amendments to HTS Sections XII-XX, Chapters 64 -96

The following are the recommended amendments to HTS Sections XII to XX, covering Chapters 64-96 (see report for full descriptions/details):

Chapter 64: Footwear, Gaiters and the Like; Parts of Such Articles

  • Subheadings 6406.91.00 through 6306.99.90 and the superior text thereto would be superseded by the following: [Parts of footwear, including uppers...:] 6406.90, 6406.90.10, 6406.90.15, 6406.90.30, 6406.90.60, and 6406.90.90.
  • Conforming modifications to General Note 4(d)2 to the HTS would be made by (i) deleting 6406.91.00 (Colombia), and (ii) adding 6406.90.10 (Colombia).

Chapter 65: Headgear and Parts Thereof

  • Heading 6505 and subheadings 6505.10.00 through 6505.90.90 would be superseded by the following: 6505.00, 6505.00.01, 6505.00.04, 6505.00.08, 6505.00.15, 6505.00.20, 6505.00.25, 6505.00.30, 6505.00.40, 6505.00.50, 6505.00.60, 6505.00.70, 6505.00.80, and 6505.00.90.

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapters 66 and 67.)

Chapter 68: Articles of Stone, Plaster, Cement, Asbestos, Mica or Similar Materials

  • Subheading 6811.89.00 would be superseded by the following: 6811.89.10 and 6811.89.90.

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapters 69 and 70.)

Chapter 71: Natural or Cultured Pearls, Precious or Semi-Precious Stones, Precious Metals, Metals Clad with Precious Metal and Articles Thereof; Imitation Jewelry; Coin

  • Note 3(e) to Chapter 71 would be amended by deleting the expression “note 2(B) to chapter 42" and inserting “note 3(B) to chapter 42" in lieu thereof.

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapter 72.)

Chapter 73: Articles of Iron or Steel

  • Subheadings 7319.20.00 through 7319.30.50 would be superseded by the following: 7319.40, 7319.40.20, 7319.40.30, and 7319.40.50.

Chapter 74: Copper and Articles Thereof

  • Subheadings 7418.11 through 7418.19.51 would be superseded by the following: 7418.10.00.

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapter 75.)

Chapter 76: Aluminum and Articles Thereof

  • Subheadings 7615.11.00 through 7615.19.90 and any superior text thereto would be superseded by the following: [Table, kitchen or other household...:] 7615.10, 7615.10.11, 7615.10.20, 7615.10.30, 7615.10.50, 7615.10.71, and 7615.10.91.
  • Conforming modifications to General Note 4(d)2 would be made by (i) deleting 7615.19.30 (Thailand), and (ii) adding 7615.10.30 (Thailand).

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapters 77-81)

Chapter 82: Tools, Implements, Cutlery, Spoons and Forks, of Base Metal; Parts Thereof of Base Metal

  • Subheading 8201.20.00 would be deleted.
  • New subheading 8201.90.40 would be inserted in numerical sequence.
  • Subheadings 8205.80.00 and 8205.90.00 would be superseded by the following: 8205.90, 8205.90.10, and 8205.90.60.

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapter 83.)

Section XVI: Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof; Sound Recorders and Reproducers, Television Image and Sound Recorders and Reproducers, and Parts and Accessories of Such Articles

  • Note 1(a) to Section XVI would modified by deleting the expression "(heading 4010);" and inserting "(heading 4010)," in lieu thereof.

Chapter 84: Nuclear Reactors, Boilers, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Parts Thereof

  • Note 2 to Chapter 84 would be modified by deleting the expression "Heading 8424 does not cover: Ink-jet printing machines (heading 8443)." and inserting "Heading 8424 does not cover: (a) Ink-jet printing machines (heading 8443); (b) Water-jet cutting machines (heading 8456)." In lieu thereof.
  • Note 9(C)(ii) to Chapter 84 would be modified by deleting "and" at the end.
  • Subheadings 8452.40.00 and 8452.90.00 would be superseded by the following: 8452.90, 8452.90.10, and 8452.90.20.
  • Heading 8456 would be modified by deleting the expression “plasma arc processes" and inserting "or plasma arc processes; water-jet cutting machines" in lieu thereof.
  • Heading 8479 would be modified by inserting the following new subheadings in numerical sequence: 8479.71.00 and 8479.79.00.
  • Subheading 8428.90.01 would be renumbered 8428.90.02.

Chapter 85: Electrical Machinery and Equipment and Parts Thereof; Sound Recorders and Reproducers, Television Image and Sound Recorders and Reproducers, and Parts and Accessories of Such Articles

  • Note 1(d) to Chapter 85 would be modified by deleting the expression “purposes (chapter 90)" and inserting "sciences (heading 9018)" in lieu thereof.
  • New subheadings 8507.50.00 and 8507.60.00 would be inserted in numerical sequence.
  • Subheading 8507.80.80 would be renumbered as 8507.80.81.
  • Heading 8522 would be modified by deleting the expression "headings 8519 to 8521" and inserting "heading 8519 or 8521" in lieu thereof.
  • Subheadings 8523.40 through 8523.40.50 would be superseded by the following: 8523.41.00, 8523.49.20, 8523.49.30, 8523.49.40, and 8523.49.50.
  • The article description for subheading 8528.73.00 would be modified by deleting the expression "black and white or other monochrome" and inserting "monochrome" in lieu thereof.
  • The article description for subheading 8540.12 would be modified by deleting the expression "Black and white or other monochrome" and inserting "Monochrome" in lieu thereof.
  • Subheadings 8540.40.00 and 8540.50.00 would be superseded by the following: 8540.40.10.
  • Conforming change: the article description for subheading 9902.85.41 would be modified by deleting "8540.40.00" and inserting "8540.40.10" in lieu thereof.
  • Subheading 8540.72 would be deleted.
  • Subheading 8540.79.00 would be superseded by the following: 8540.70, 8540.79.10, and 8540.79.20.

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapter 86.)

Chapter 87: Vehicles Other Than Railway or Tramway Rolling Stock, and Parts and Accessories Thereof

  • Subheadings 8714.11 and 8714.19 would be superseded by the following: 8714.10.00.

(Note that no changes are proposed to Chapters 88 and 89.)

Chapter 90: Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus; Parts and Accessories Thereof

  • Subheadings 9007.11.00 through 9007.19.80 and any superior text thereto would be superseded by the following: [Cinematographic cameras ...:] 9007.10.00.
  • Subheadings 9008.10.00 through 9008.40.00 would be superseded by the following: 9008.50, 9008.50.10, 9008.50.20, 9008.50.30, 9008.50.40, and 9008.50.50.

Chapter 91: Clocks and Watches and Parts Thereof

  • Subheadings 9109.11 (and the superior text thereto) through 9109.19.60 would be superseded by the following: 9109.10, 9109.10.10, 9109.10.20, 9109.10.30, 9109.10.40, 9109.10.50, 9109.10.60, 9109.10.70, and 9109.10.80.
  • Subheading 9114.20.00 would be deleted.
  • New subheading 9114.90.10 would be inserted in numerical sequence.

Chapter 92: Musical Instruments; Parts and Accessories of Such Articles

  • The article description for heading 9205 would be superseded by the following: “Wind musical instruments (for example, keyboard pipe organs, accordions, clarinets, trumpets, bagpipes), other than fairground organs and mechanical street organs:”

Chapter 93: Arms and Ammunition; Parts and Accessories Thereof

  • Subheadings 9301.11.00 and 9301.19.00 and any superior text thereto would be superseded by the following: Artillery weapons (for example, guns, howitzers and mortars) 9301.10.00.
  • Subheadings 9305.21 through 9305.29.50 and any superior text thereto would be superseded by the following: 9305.20, 9305.20.05, and 9305.20.80.

Chapter 94: Furniture; Bedding, Mattresses, Mattress Supports, Cushions and Similar Stuffed Furnishings; Lamps and Lighting Fittings, Not Elsewhere Specified or Included; Illuminated Sign Illuminated Nameplates and the Like; Prefabricated Buildings

  • Note 1(g) to Chapter 94 would be modified by deleting the expression, “headings 8519 to 8521" and inserting “heading 8519 or 8521" in lieu thereof.
  • Note 2(a) would be superseded by the following: “(a) Cupboards, bookcases, other shelved furniture (including single shelves presented with supports for fixing them to the wall) and unit furniture;”

Chapter 95: Toys, Games and Sports Requisites; Parts and Accessories Thereof

  • Note 1(m) to Chapter 95 would be modified by deleting the expression “or radio remote control apparatus (heading 8526);" and inserting the expression “discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, “smart cards” and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded (heading 8523), radio remote control apparatus (heading 8526) or cordless infrared remote control devices (heading 8543)" in lieu thereof.
  • The following new Subheading Note to Chapter 95 would be inserted after Note 5 to that chapter: "1. Subheading 9504.50 covers: (a) Video game consoles from which the image is reproduced on a television receiver, a monitor or other external screen or surface; or (b) Video game machines having a self-contained video screen, whether or not portable. This subheading does not cover video game consoles or machines operated by coins, banknotes, bank cards, tokens or by any other means of payment (subheading 9504.30).”
  • The article description to heading 9504 would be modified by deleting the expression, “Articles for arcade” and inserting “Video game consoles and machines, articles for arcade” in lieu thereof.
  • Subheading 9504.10 would be deleted.
  • The article description for subheading 9504.30.00 would be modified by deleting the expression, “bowling alley” and inserting “automatic bowling alley” in lieu thereof.
  • New subheading 9504.50.00 would be inserted in numerical sequence.

Chapter 96: Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles

  • Subheadings 9608.31.00 (and the superior text thereto) and 9608.39.00 would be superseded by the following: [Ball point pens; felt tipped and...:] 9608.30.00.
  • The following new heading 9619 and subheadings 9619.00.11 through 9619.00.90 would be inserted in numerical sequence.

1Section 1205 directs the ITC to keep the HTS under continuous review and to recommend to the President modifications thereto, (1) when amendments to the international Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System, International HS), and the Protocol thereto, are recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO) for adoption; and/or (2) as other circumstances warrant.

2General Note 4(d) lists Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) country/tariff number combinations that are not eligible for GSP duty-free treatment.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/09/11, 06/10/11, 06/13/11, 06/14/11, 06/15/11, and 06/16/11 news, 11060918, 11061006, 11061301, 11061411, 11061508 and 11061607, for BP summaries of Part 1 (Overview), Part 2 (Chapters 1-5), Part 3 (Chapters 6-15), Part 4 (Chapters 16-24), Part 5 (Chapters 25-38), and Part 6 (Chapters 39-63) of this report.

See ITT's Online Archives or 03/09/11 news, 10090315, for BP summary of the ITC announcing its investigation on proposed changes to the HTS for January 2012.)

(ITC Inv. No. 1205-7 (Final Report), dated June 2010)