Of the four choices below, which is the best CLASSIFICATION for a plastic brush with metal bristles used to groom a dog or cat that at time of importation is valued at $3.64?
How to get there (GRI 1, then GRI 6)
Heading 9603 covers brooms and brushes. The only question is which subheading:
HTSUS 9603 (structure)9603.21–9603.29 Toothbrushes, shaving brushes, hair brushes, nail brushes, eyelash brushes and other toilet brushes for use on the person …
9603.30 Artists' brushes … · 9603.40 Paint brushes … · 9603.50 Brushes that are parts of machines …
9603.90 Other → 9603.90.80 Other → 9603.90.80.50 Other
9603.30 Artists' brushes … · 9603.40 Paint brushes … · 9603.50 Brushes that are parts of machines …
9603.90 Other → 9603.90.80 Other → 9603.90.80.50 Other
A dog or cat brush isn't for use on the person, so the 9603.2x lines (including "hairbrushes") are out. It isn't an artist's, paint or machine brush either, and it isn't a broom. It falls to 9603.90.8050, C.
Why the other choices are wrong
A) 9603.29.8010: hairbrushes valued over 40¢. But 9603.29 sits under brushes "for use on the person." Grooming a pet isn't use on the person.
B) 9603.29.8090: same problem, under "other" toilet brushes for use on the person.
D) 9615.11.3000: heading 9615 covers combs, hair-slides and the like. A bristle brush isn't a comb.
Trap!
The $3.64 value is a distractor. It only matters inside 9603.29, which splits on "valued not over 40¢ each" vs "over 40¢." Once you see the brush isn't for use on the person, the value is irrelevant.
Sources: HTSUS heading 9603; subheadings 9603.29, 9603.90.80.50; heading 9615 (USITC HTS). CBP key: 9603.90.8050, HTSUS; GRI 1.
CBP answer key: Answer C · 9603.90.8050, HTSUS; GRI 1Source: CBP past exams ↗