Potential Reclassification of Sugar Products Subject of CBP Inquiry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is accepting comments through June 23 on a petition requesting the reclassification of certain cane sugar molasses and liquid sugar. CBP currently classifies the subject cane sugar molasses as molasses under HTSUS 1703.10.30 and the liquid sugar as other sugars under HTSUS 1702.90.40. However, the petitioner contends that these goods are properly classified as sugar syrups under HTSUS 1702.90.10 or 1702.90.20.

According to CBP, the petition argues that these products are cane sugar run-off syrups that do not contain over six percent soluble non-sugar solids, unless a refinery is deliberately adding a foreign substance during the manufacturing process or deliberately causing a foreign substance to be developed in the product by adjusting its refining process to operate in a manner that is not commercially or economically reasonable. Moreover, the petitioner argues that the products do not have the physical and chemical characteristics of molasses.