CLA-2-25:S:N:N3:226 897620
Mr. Jim Buchanan
FMC Corporation
Lithium Division
449 North Cox Road
Box 3925
Gastonia, North Carolina 28054-0020
RE: The tariff classification of lithium brine water from
Argentina
Dear Mr. Buchanan:
In your letter dated April 13, 1994 you requested a tariff
classification ruling regarding lithium brine water. A sample of
the product was submitted with your ruling request. This sample
was sent to our Customs laboratory for analysis.
In a telephone conversation with this office and in the
material which you submitted with your ruling request, you
described the product in the following manner. The merchandise is
naturally occurring water containing some minerals including
lithium chloride. Prior to importation, the water is allowed to
evaporate in the sun (to a limited degree). After evaporation,
the product contains approximately six percent lithium chloride
(with smaller amounts of other minerals) and ninety four percent
water.
You stated that no ingredients are added to this naturally
occurring product. The water is simply derived from the earth and
allowed to evaporate to a limited extent. No other processing
takes place. Analysis of the sample by our Customs laboratory has
verified that the product is composed of 94 percent water and 6
percent lithium chloride derived by evaporating naturally occurring
brine water.
The applicable subheading for the lithium brine water will be
2530.90.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS), which provides for mineral substances not elsewhere
specified or included: other. The duty rate will be free.
2
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Section
177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport