CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:110 860833
Mr. Marty Langtry
Castelazo & Associates
5420 West 104th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
RE: The tariff classification of a Notebook computer and docking
station from Taiwan.
Dear Mr. Langtry:
In your letter dated February 19, 1991, on behalf of Epson
America, you requested a tariff classification ruling.
The merchandise under consideration includes a model NB3s
Notebook computer with its slip cover and an expansion unit.
The NB3s Notebook computer is a portable personal computer
that incorporates a 80386SX, 16MHz microprocessor and a 20 MB
hard drive mechanism. The keyboard and the computer display is
integrated in the same housing as the processor unit. The
display unit is an LCD flat panel display that provides VGA
graphics with 640 x 480 resolution and displays up to 16 gray
scales. The unit also includes a high capacity, 1.44MB, 3.5 inch
floppy disk drive, and the computer weighs just 5.8 pounds. The
unit comes with a battery pack, AC adaptor/battery charger and
DOS 4.01, all standard. The Notebook computer will be imported
and sold with its slip cover that is specially shaped and fitted
for the NB3s. The cover is constructed of a nylon shell coated
with PVC, and the inside of the cover is padded with foam. This
slip cover appears to meet the GRI-5 (a) provision and would thus
be classified at the same rate as the computer.
The Expansion unit or docking station is in a separate
housing from the Notebook computer and provides the following
three functions when attached to the NB3s computer:
1. provides a mounting bay for additional and removable hard
disk drives
2. provides two AT compatible 16/8-BIT expansion slots
3. provides a power supply for the Notebook computer.
The expansion unit also has the ability to power a full-size
external keyboard. This expansion unit appears to meet the
definition of a "unit" for an automatic data processing machine,
noting Legal Note 5 (B) to Chapter 84 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States.
The applicable subheading for the Notebook computer and slip
cover will be 8471.20.0090, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTS), which provides for digital automatic data
processing machines, containing in the same housing at least a
central processing unit and an input and output unit, whether or
not combined. The rate of duty will be 3.9 percent ad valorem.
The applicable subheading for the Expansion unit (docking
station) will be 8471.99.9000, HTS, which provides for other
units of automatic data processing machines. The rate of duty
will be 3.7 percent ad valorem.
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