The 57th Session of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Harmonized System Committee (HSC) was held March 9-18 in Brussels, Belgium. Classification decisions and amendments to the legal text and explanatory notes were made on several tech commodities. The HSC also advanced proposals to facilitate the monitoring of the international movement of goods required for the production and use of improvised explosive devices and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation and advanced rulings.
Two different assemblies used in mobile telephones were classified in the parts provision HS subheading 8517.70 and they were deemed not to be separate articles of commerce. Similar rationale contributed to the classification of a flat panel display module in subheading 8473.30 the parts provision for automatic data processing machines. A "Hall Element Device" which senses magnetism and is used for small accurate motors of washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. was classified in subheading 8543.70. Amendments to the Explanatory Notes were approved for multicomponent integrated circuits (MCOs) and computer monitors.
Classification of 3D printers and instant photoresists used in the manufacture of semiconductor materials are two articles to be classified at the next HSC in September 2016.
For more information on technology commodities being classified at the WCO, contact Ken Montgomery, Vice President, International Trade Regulation & Compliance, CompTIA, kmontgomery@comptia.org.
