The tariff classification of stainless steel fiber pellets from Belgium

N187583 March 23, 2012 CLA-2-73:OT:RR:NC:1:117 CATEGORY: Classification TARIFF NO.: 7326.90.8588 Ms. Evelyne Blanc Corporate Customs Compliance Coordinator Bekaert Corporation 1395 South Marietta Parkway Building 500, Suite 100 Marietta, GA 30067-4440 RE: The tariff classification of stainless steel fiber pellets from Belgium Dear Ms. Blanc: In your letter dated October 4, 2011 you requested a tariff classification ruling. The products you intend to import are described as stainless steel fibers in pellet form that are coated with a polymer. The manufacturing process is described as follows: stainless steel fibers are bundle drawn, chemically leached, co-extruded with a sizing and coating and then chopped into pellets. The pellets are said to be composed of 75 percent stainless steel grade 302, 10 percent sizing and 15 percent coating. According to product brochures submitted with your request the pellets, identified by the trade name “Beki-Shield”, are used as filler material for electrically conductive plastics. The product literature states that these pellets when added to a plastic compound will create an electrically conductive network in the plastic part to act as a shield against electro-magnetic radiation and electrostatic discharge. Electrostatic discharges are drained away through the stainless steel fibres in the Beki-Shield pellets to protect the electronic components. Samples of two different grades of Beki-Shield pellets were submitted with your request which were forwarded to the Customs Laboratory. The Laboratory determined both sets of Beki-Shield pellets to be stainless steel fibers contained within an organic sheath composed of a polyphenol derivative in one case and polypropylene for the other. The stainless steel composed 75 percent of the product. The average diameter of the pellets is 2.47 mm. Based on the information submitted and the laboratory analysis it is the opinion of this office that the applicable subheading for the Beki-Shield pellets will be 7326.90.8588, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which provides for other articles of iron or steel, other, other, other, other, other. The rate of duty will be 2.9 percent. Duty rates are provided for your convenience and are subject to change. The text of the most recent HTSUS and the accompanying duty rates are provided on World Wide Web at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/. This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Mary Ellen Laker at (646) 733-3020. Sincerely, Thomas J. Russo Director National Commodity Specialist Division