CUSTOMS RULING REQUEST

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Request for Binding Ruling Letter

SECTION 1: REQUESTER INFORMATION

Full Legal Name:
[________________________________]

Company/Organization (if applicable):
[________________________________]

Mailing Address:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

City: [____________________] State: [____] ZIP: [__________]

Country: [____________________]

Telephone: [____________________]

Fax: [____________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Importer Number (if applicable): [____________________]

SECTION 2: REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION (IF APPLICABLE)

Name of Representative/Agent:
[________________________________]

Firm Name:
[________________________________]

Address:
[________________________________]

Telephone: [____________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Customs Broker License Number (if applicable): [____________________]

☐ Power of Attorney attached

SECTION 3: TYPE OF RULING REQUESTED

☐ Tariff Classification (HTSUS)
☐ Country of Origin
☐ Marking Requirements
☐ Valuation
☐ Applicability of Trade Program (specify): [____________________]
☐ USMCA/Free Trade Agreement Eligibility
☐ Substantial Transformation
☐ Other: [____________________]

SECTION 4: INTEREST IN THE RULING

Describe your direct and demonstrable interest in the merchandise or transaction:

☐ Importer of Record
☐ Exporter
☐ Manufacturer/Producer
☐ Domestic Producer (competing goods)
☐ Customs Broker (on behalf of client)
☐ Attorney (on behalf of client)
☐ Trade Association
☐ Other: [____________________]

Explanation of interest:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

SECTION 5: MERCHANDISE DESCRIPTION

A. General Product Information

Commercial Name/Product Description:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Trade Name/Brand Name (if any):
[________________________________]

Model/Part Number (if any):
[________________________________]

Country of Manufacture: [____________________]

Value per Unit: $[____________________]

Anticipated Import Volume: [____________________]

B. Detailed Product Description

Physical Characteristics:
(Include size, weight, dimensions, color, material composition, etc.)
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Material Composition:
(List all materials and approximate percentages)
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Manufacturing Process:
(Describe how the product is made)
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Function/Purpose/End Use:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

How is the product marketed/sold?
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Who is the intended end-user/consumer?
[________________________________]

SECTION 6: TARIFF CLASSIFICATION REQUEST (IF APPLICABLE)

A. Proposed Classification

Proposed HTSUS Classification:
[____________________]

Full Tariff Description:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Duty Rate at Proposed Classification: [____]%

B. Justification for Proposed Classification

Legal Basis and Arguments:
(Include reference to General Rules of Interpretation, Section Notes, Chapter Notes, and Explanatory Notes)
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Relevant Prior CBP Rulings:
(List ruling numbers and brief descriptions)

C. Alternative Classifications Considered

Alternative Classification 1: [____________________]
Reason for rejection: [________________________________]

Alternative Classification 2: [____________________]
Reason for rejection: [________________________________]

SECTION 7: COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REQUEST (IF APPLICABLE)

A. Manufacturing/Processing Operations

Country where raw materials are sourced:
[________________________________]

Country(ies) where processing occurs:
[________________________________]

Describe all manufacturing operations and the country where each occurs:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

B. Substantial Transformation Analysis

At what point does substantial transformation occur?
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

What is the claimed country of origin? [____________________]

Basis for origin determination:
☐ Substantial Transformation
☐ USMCA/FTA Rules of Origin
☐ Tariff Shift
☐ Regional Value Content
☐ Other: [____________________]

Legal arguments supporting origin claim:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

SECTION 8: MARKING REQUIREMENTS REQUEST (IF APPLICABLE)

Proposed country of origin marking: [____________________]

Location of marking on product: [________________________________]

Method of marking:
☐ Printed
☐ Stamped
☐ Etched
☐ Labeled
☐ Tagged
☐ Other: [____________________]

Is an exception to marking requirements claimed?
☐ Yes ☐ No

If Yes, cite the applicable exception:
[________________________________]

SECTION 9: TRADE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY (IF APPLICABLE)

Trade Program:
☐ USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement)
☐ GSP (Generalized System of Preferences)
☐ CAFTA-DR
☐ Other FTA: [____________________]
☐ Foreign Trade Zone
☐ Temporary Importation Under Bond
☐ Other: [____________________]

Basis for claiming eligibility:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

SECTION 10: PRIOR TRANSACTIONS AND PENDING MATTERS

A. Prior CBP Consideration

Has CBP previously considered the same or substantially similar merchandise or issues?
☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unknown

If Yes, provide details:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

B. Court Proceedings

Are any of the issues raised in this ruling request currently before:
- U.S. Court of International Trade? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit? ☐ Yes ☐ No

If Yes, provide case information:
[________________________________]

C. Related Transactions

Is this transaction one of a series of similar transactions?
☐ Yes ☐ No

If Yes, describe:
[________________________________]

SECTION 11: SAMPLES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

A. Sample Submission

☐ Physical sample enclosed
☐ Sample to follow under separate cover
☐ Sample previously submitted (Reference: [____________________])
☐ Sample not submitted - Explanation: [________________________________]

Sample Description:
[________________________________]

Note: Samples become property of CBP and will not be returned unless specifically requested and arrangements are made at requester's expense.

B. Supporting Documents Checklist

☐ Product literature/brochures
☐ Technical specifications/data sheets
☐ Manufacturing flowchart/process description
☐ Component breakdown/bill of materials
☐ Photographs/diagrams
☐ Laboratory analysis/test results
☐ Customs invoices from prior imports
☐ Prior ruling letters (copies)
☐ Power of Attorney
☐ Other: [____________________]

SECTION 12: CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Does this request contain confidential business information?
☐ Yes ☐ No

If Yes, identify the confidential portions:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]

Note: Under 19 CFR 177.8, CBP ruling letters are made available to the public. If confidential treatment is requested, a separate, non-confidential version must be provided.

SECTION 13: CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that:

☐ All information provided in this ruling request is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

☐ I have disclosed all relevant facts relating to the transaction.

☐ I have a direct and demonstrable interest in the matter presented.

☐ I have disclosed whether the same or substantially similar issues are pending before any CBP office or court.

☐ I understand that this ruling, if issued, is binding on CBP personnel but may be modified or revoked.

☐ I understand that false statements may result in penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.

Signature: ________________________________

Printed Name: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

SECTION 14: SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Tariff Classification Rulings

Address:
Director, National Commodity Specialist Division
Regulations and Rulings, Office of International Trade
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
201 Varick Street, Suite 501
New York, New York 10014

Electronic Submission: via eRulings Template at https://erulings.cbp.gov

B. Valuation and Carrier Rulings

Address:
Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection
Attention: Regulations and Rulings
Office of International Trade
Washington, DC 20229

C. Processing Time

Typical Processing Time: 30-90 days (may vary based on complexity)

Pre-Ruling Inquiries:
- Classification: (212) 620-2299
- Other: (202) 325-0000

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• CBP Ruling Letters Online Search (CROSS): https://rulings.cbp.gov
• 19 CFR Part 177: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-19/chapter-I/part-177
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule: https://hts.usitc.gov
• World Customs Organization Explanatory Notes
• eRulings Portal: https://erulings.cbp.gov

LEGAL NOTICES

Effect of Ruling Letter: A ruling letter represents the official position of CBP with respect to the particular transaction described therein and is binding on all CBP personnel until modified or revoked. A ruling may be cited as precedent for transactions involving substantially similar facts.

Limitation: No more than five (5) items of the same class or kind may be included in a single ruling request.

This template is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It should be reviewed and customized by qualified legal counsel or a licensed customs broker before use.