In recent CBLE sittings this subject area has made up roughly 14–20% of the 80 scored questions, so our full practice exam gives it 13 of the 80.
The full bank holds 67 questions for this subject area, each with an explanation citing the provision that decides it. Below are 8 free questions with answers.
The provisions the questions in this subject area cite most often.
What is the CLASSIFICATION of a motorcycle propelled by an electric motor rated at 80 kilowatts output? (1 megawatt = 1000 kilowatts; 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts; 1 kilowatt = 1.34102 horsepower)
Why: Subheading 8711.60 covers motorcycles and cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor that are propelled by an electric motor, and the statistical breakouts beneath it divide by the motor's power output: 8711.60.0050 is limited to machines “of an output not exceeding 250 W,” and 8711.60.0090 is the residual “Other.” At 80 kilowatts - 80,000 watts - this motorcycle is far above the 250 W ceiling, so 8711.60.0090 applies, which is why the stem supplies the watt/kilowatt conversions. Subheadings 8711.20 and 8711.50 are for motorcycles with reciprocating internal combustion piston engines and do not describe an electrically propelled machine.
Of the four choices below, which is the best CLASSIFICATION of a non-dairy snack bar, determined to be a food preparation that is a sugar confectionary, made of peanuts and corn flakes and containing cocoa in the chocolate coated bottom? The snack bar contains 8% by weight of cocoa calculated on a totally defatted basis and 53% added sugar. The snack bars are individually wrapped for retail sale.
Why: Note 1(a) to Chapter 17 excludes sugar confectionery containing cocoa from that chapter, which removes 1704.90.3520 from consideration for a bar with a chocolate coating containing cocoa. Note 2 to Chapter 18 brings food preparations containing cocoa into heading 1806, and Note 3 to Chapter 19 keeps such cocoa-containing preparations out of heading 1904. Within heading 1806, a bar individually wrapped for retail sale and not filled is classified in 1806.32.9000.
What is the CLASSIFICATION of a beverage dispenser machine designed to dispense both soda and non-carbonated soft drinks? The dispenser is made of stainless steel and incorporates solenoid valves that allow the components of a beverage to be mixed, and ultimately dispensed, on demand. It also features a “cold plate”, which uses a supply of ice provided by a different apparatus that does not accompany the instant merchandise at importation, to cool beverages before dispensing them (i.e., it is not imported with a refrigerating unit). The machine’s solenoid valves control the flow of liquid through the water and syrup lines, and their activation by a customer directly causes the machine to mix and release the beverages. The machine will be used in restaurants, supermarkets, and cafeterias.
Why: Applying GRI 1 and GRI 6 with Section XVI, Note 3, a composite machine is classified by the component that performs the principal function, and here the facts state that the solenoid valves control the flow of water and syrup and that their activation directly causes the machine to mix and release the beverage. That places the dispenser in heading 8481 (taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances) at the 8481.80.90 rate line, and because the stem specifies solenoid valves the statistical suffix is 05 - 8481.80.9005 is “Solenoid valves” - rather than the residual “Other” suffix 8481.80.9050. Heading 8418 is excluded because the machine is not imported with a refrigerating unit, and heading 8509 covers electromechanical domestic appliances, not commercial restaurant and supermarket equipment.
Of the four choices below, which is the best CLASSIFICATION of pure silver (99.99%) coins that are minted in South Africa, have legal tender status, and are valued at $25,000.00 U.S. Dollars (USD)?
Why: Heading 7118 covers "Coin" eo nomine, and under GRI 1 and GRI 3(a) that heading, as the most specific description, prevails over the precious-metal provisions for an article that is coin. Applying GRI 6 at subheading level, 7118.10 is expressly limited to coin (other than gold coin) **not being legal tender**; because these South African silver coins do have legal tender status they fall to the residual subheading 7118.90, statistical breakout 7118.90.0055. Heading 7106.91 covers silver in unwrought form and 7115.90 covers other articles of precious metal - neither describes minted legal-tender coin, and the $25,000 value does not affect the classification.
Of the four choices below, which is the best CLASSIFICATION and associated duty rate to be listed on the entry summary for an entry on August 1, 2025, of the following merchandise? The merchandise is a replica scale model of a 1955 Chevy 3100 pickup truck in red. Commonly known as the “Christmas Truck,” this model is intended for individuals 15 years of age and up. The model was die-cast in parts in Germany of a zinc-aluminum alloy. The parts were buffed, painted, and assembled with welding into the complete model trucks in China.
Why: General Note 3(b) and the Section 301 provisions of Chapter 99, Subchapter III apply only to goods whose country of origin is China. Die-cast components produced in Germany that are merely buffed, painted and welded together in China are not substantially transformed there, so the model's country of origin remains Germany and the additional Chapter 99 duty at 9903.88.16 does not attach. The model truck is a toy of heading 9503, classified in 9503.00.0090, which carries a Column 1 general rate of Free. Subheading 9817.95.01 is a Chapter 98, Subchapter XVII provision for utilitarian articles in the form of a three-dimensional representation of a symbol or motif clearly associated with a specific holiday, which does not describe a collectible scale model pickup truck marketed for ages 15 and up.
Which of the following statements is accurate with regard to “cough drops” of Chapter 17, HTSUS?
Why: Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note 11, HTSUS, defines the "cough drops" of subheading 1704.90.25 by their active ingredient content, requiring a minimum of 5 mg per dose of menthol, of eucalyptol, or of a combination of the two. The threshold is 5 mg, not 10 mg, and it is measured by menthol/eucalyptol content rather than by raw sugar content or by whether the product is made from blended cane or beet syrups.
What is the CLASSIFICATION and duty rate for a button of acrylic resin, not covered with textile material? The finished button is a product the U.S. Virgin Islands and is manufactured from button blanks produced in France.
Why: Under GRI 1 an acrylic-resin button not covered with textile material falls in subheading 9606.21, and the applicable breakout is 9606.21.4000. General Notes 2 and 3 give duty-free treatment to products of U.S. insular possessions such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, but Chapter 96, Additional U.S. Note 2, carves buttons out of that treatment, so this USVI button made from French blanks is dutiable at the column 1 general rate of 0.3 cents/line/gross plus 4.6%. That is why the same subheading shown as "Free" is wrong, and 9606.29.2000 covers buttons of other materials.
What is the CLASSIFICATION of a women's outdoor long sleeve garment top, which is composed of a rubberized textile fabric meant for recreational water sports? The rubberized textile fabric is a 100% nylon knit fabric that is completely coated on the outer surface with a rubber weighing less than 1,500 g/m2.
Why: Note 4 to Chapter 59 brings within heading 5906 textile fabrics that are rubberized, including knitted fabric combined with rubber weighing not more than 1,500 g/m2, so this 100% nylon knit fabric coated with rubber weighing less than 1,500 g/m2 is a fabric of heading 5906. Heading 6113 then covers garments made up of knitted or crocheted fabrics of heading 5903, 5906 or 5907, which places the women's top in 6113.00.1012. Heading 6114 is the residual provision for other knitted garments and yields to the more specific 6113 provision, and 6112.41 covers women's knitted swimwear rather than an outerwear top.
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