Litigation Kicks Off Over Disputed Classification of HP Monitors

Taiwanese OEM Innolux launched its case against Customs and Border Protection’s classification of its shipments of HP 25-inch monitors, in a complaint Friday at the U.S. Court of International Trade. The case was originally filed in 2013 but placed on the reserve calendar with several extensions. CBP classified the goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule’s 5828.59.3050 subheading for monitors without TV tuners, dutiable at 5%. Innolux argued they should have been classified under the duty-free HTS 8528.51.0000 for monitors used solely in automatic data processing systems, but CBP denied that, sparking the litigation. "The HP set up guide that accompanied the sale of the subject HP PC monitors explains how to connect this model to an ADP system (PC) only," Innolux said. "It does not explain or show how this monitor may be used or configured with any other system or device."