Samsonite Says Various Bag Entries Entitled to Section 301 Exclusions

Luggage importer Samsonite filed a complaint at the Court of International Trade on Aug. 29 to contest CBP's alleged failure to apply Section 301 exclusions granted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to its baggage entries (Samsonite v. United States, CIT # 24-00031).

The complaint said the Section 301 duties covered Samsonite products classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings 4202.11.0030, 4202.92.0400, 4202.92.3120, 4202.92.3131, 4820.10.2020 and 4820.30.0040 but that USTR issued six exclusions in 2020 covering these six subheadings. The exclusions cover leather briefcases, backpacks with hydration systems, backpacks with "outer surface of textile materials of man-made fibers," polyester duffel bags, duffel bags made predominantly of man-made fibers with wheels and faux leather or polyester padfolios.

The importer filed the complaint to argue that CBP failed to apply the exclusions to its imports, which cover 27 different product codes. Samsonite asked the trade court to order CBP to reliquidate the goods and refund any Section 301 payments.