TradeLane

 Trade Compliance in the US as a function has gone mainstream as tariff policy has led to increased duty exposure and added complexity to entry rules across industries. Companies now more than ever are focused on maintaining their compliance posture while compliantly avoiding and recovering duty payments wherever possible. 

The automotive industry relies heavily on the global flow of parts and components, making accurate classification within the Harmonized System (HS) critical. This complex system of names and numbers dictates tariffs and facilitates international trade, but its intricacies can be highly challenging for automotive products.

Differences that seem minor in a part description may lead to exponentially different classifications and, as a result, wildly varying duty rates. These differences can have significant financial implications for automotive businesses, impacting everything from production costs to final vehicle pricing.

Following the inauguration of the new administration on January 20th, 2025, there has been significant movement in both statements and confirmed actions that have an impact on trade.

As businesses brace for 2025, the European Union will introduce significant updates to the Harmonized System (HS) of tariff classification, effective 1 January 2025. These changes, encapsulated in the Combined Nomenclature (CN), are vital for companies engaged in international trade to ensure accurate classification and compliance. The upcoming revisions reflect advancements in statistical requirements, commercial policies, and technological developments.

Why is it that chemicals and pharmaceutical items are often classified incorrectly? The answer has more to do with the nature of pharmaceutical trade than the complexity of the tariff (though it is complex). In an industry with its fair share of non-commercial product movements for testing, diagnosis, analysis, and new product development, that ‘newness’ and the speed at which product moves can make compliance determination challenging. However, meeting reasonable care standards makes attention to and investment in an accurate classification process critical. Here are some tips on how to get it right.