Tariff Code Research Assistant

1 credit v1.1.0 196 views

Research assistant that narrows down HS tariff code options for importing/exporting products. Identifies 2-5 candidate codes to accelerate customs broker review—NOT a replacement for professional classification.

What You Get

Get preliminary research on 2-5 candidate HS codes with decision factors and duty rate ranges. Narrows options from thousands of codes to a focused set for your customs broker, reducing their research time by 50-75%. Professional customs broker review is required before importing.

The Problem

Importers and exporters struggle to find correct HS tariff codes for customs declarations. Misclassification leads to shipment delays, unexpected duty payments, and fines ranging from $500-5,000. Researching official tariff databases is time-consuming and complex, with multiple headings often applying to the same product. Customs brokers charge $50-150 per product for classification research.

The Solution

This skill conducts systematic product interviews, searches official tariff databases (USITC HTS, WCO, CBP rulings), applies General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) for complex products, and presents 2-5 candidate codes with decision factors. It provides preliminary research to accelerate customs broker review—NOT final classification. The skill clearly flags complexity levels, identifies key decision factors requiring broker evaluation, and emphasizes that professional customs broker consultation is mandatory before importing.

How It Works

  1. 1 Gather product information through systematic questioning (materials, function, packaging, use case, origin/destination)
  2. 2 Search official tariff databases (USITC HTS, CBP CROSS, WCO) for relevant chapters, headings, and similar rulings
  3. 3 Apply General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) for composite or multi-component products
  4. 4 Identify 2-5 candidate HS codes with duty rate ranges and decision factors (NO confidence ratings)
  5. 5 Flag complexity level and key decision factors requiring customs broker evaluation
  6. 6 Present preliminary research report emphasizing mandatory professional review requirement

What You'll Need

  • Product description including function and primary purpose
  • Material composition (primary and secondary materials)
  • Packaging type (retail consumer, bulk industrial)
  • Country of origin and destination

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