Decals, Decorative Stickers and Window Clings

Published CBP guidance; operative status and applicability must be assessed from the retained publisher edition.

What Every Member of the
Trade Community Should Know About:

Decals, Decorative
Stickers and “Window
Clings”

AN INFORMED COMPLIANCE PUBLICATION
JANUARY 2007

Decals, Decorative Stickers and “Window Clings”
January 2007

NOTICE:

This publication is intended to provide guidance and information to the trade community.
It reflects the position on or interpretation of the applicable laws or regulations by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as of the date of publication, which is shown on
the front cover. It does not in any way replace or supersede those laws or regulations.
Only the latest official version of the laws or regulations is authoritative.

Publication History

First Issued January 2007

PRINTING NOTE:

This publication was designed for electronic distribution via the CBP website
(http://www.cbp.gov) and is being distributed in a variety of formats. It was originally set
up in Microsoft Word97
®
. Pagination and margins in downloaded versions may vary
depending upon which word processor or printer you use. If you wish to maintain the
original settings, you may wish to download the .pdf version, which can then be printed
using the freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader
®
.

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PREFACE

On December 8, 1993, Title VI of the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation
Act (Pub. L. 103-182, 107 Stat. 2057), also known as the Customs Modernization or “Mod” Act,
became effective. These provisions amended many sections of the Tariff Act of 1930 and
related laws.

Two new concepts that emerge from the Mod Act are “informed compliance” and “shared
responsibility,” which are premised on the idea that in order to maximize voluntary compliance
with laws and regulations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the trade community needs to
be clearly and completely informed of its legal obligations. Accordingly, the Mod Act imposes a
greater obligation on CBP to provide the public with improved information concerning the trade
community's rights and responsibilities under customs regulations and related laws. In addition,
both the trade and U.S. Customs and Border Protection share responsibility for carrying out
these requirements. For example, under Section 484 of the Tariff Act, as amended (19 U.S.C.
1484), the importer of record is responsible for using reasonable care to enter, classify and
determine the value of imported merchandise and to provide any other information necessary to
enable U.S. Customs and Border Protection to properly assess duties, collect accurate
statistics, and determine whether other applicable legal requirements, if any, have been met.
CBP is then responsible for fixing the final classification and value of the merchandise. An
importer of record’s failure to exercise reasonable care could delay release of the merchandise
and, in some cases, could result in the imposition of penalties.

In order to provide information to the public, CBP has issued a series of informed compliance
publications on new or revised requirements, regulations or procedures, and a variety of
classification and valuation issues. This publication, prepared by the National Commodity
Specialist Division, ORR, is on decals, decorative stickers and “window clings”. “Decals,
Decorative Stickers and “Window Clings”” provides guidance regarding their classification. We
sincerely hope that this material, together with seminars and increased access to rulings of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection, will help the trade community to improve voluntary compliance
with customs laws and to understand the relevant administrative processes.

The material in this publication is provided for general information purposes only. Because
many complicated factors can be involved in customs issues, an importer may wish to obtain a
ruling under Regulations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 19 C.F.R. Part 177, or to
obtain advice from an expert who specializes in customs matters, for example, a licensed
customs broker, attorney or consultant.

Comments and suggestions are welcomed and should be addressed to the Assistant
Commissioner at the Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, (Mint Annex) NW, Washington, D.C. 20229.

Sandra L. Bell,
Executive Director,
Regulations and Rulings
Office of International Trade

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INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 7
DECALS (TRANSFERS)............................................................................. 7
DECORATIVE PAPER STICKERS............................................................. 8
PAPER STICKERS CONTRASTED WITH PAPER LABELS (HEADING
4911 VS. HEADING 4821)
......................................................................... 10
FLAT, SELF-ADHESIVE PLASTIC STICKERS........................................ 10
SPECIALIZED (3-DIMENSIONAL) PLASTIC STICKERS........................ 11
WINDOW CLINGS..................................................................................... 12
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION................................................................... 14
The Internet............................................................................................................................... 14
Customs Regulations................................................................................................................ 14
Customs Bulletin....................................................................................................................... 14
Importing Into the United States............................................................................................... 15
Informed Compliance Publications........................................................................................... 15
Value Publications.................................................................................................................... 16
“Your Comments are Important”.............................................................................................. 17

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INTRODUCTION

This publication concerns a variety of articles designed to be applied to the surfaces of
other objects, usually for decorative purposes. Commonly known as decals, stickers
and window clings, these articles are manufactured using a range of disparate materials
and formats, and function in different ways. That circumstance, together with imprecise
use of identifying terminology, can easily result in confusion as to the true nature of a
given product and how it is classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The discussion that follows
will describe and contrast the physical form, use and tariff treatment of the several
commonly imported types of goods comprising this broad group of products.

DECALS (TRANSFERS)

A decal (short for “decalcomania,” derived from the French decalcomanie) consists of
an image that has been printed onto a specially coated carrier sheet, generally of paper
or plastic. The imprint itself is coated with an adhesive, and is meant to be transferred
from its carrier to the surface of some other object, where it will serve as a decoration,
informational marking, etc., depending on the nature of its printed content. The image
must generally be transferred by placing the entire decal sheet, printed side down, onto
the receiving surface and applying pressure to the back of the carrier. In many cases,
the decal must be pre-moistened or heated/pressed with an iron to effect the transfer.
After the image has been transferred to the other object, the carrier can be stripped
away and discarded.

Decals are specifically provided for, as printed transfers, in heading 4908 of the HTSUS.
This heading is broken down into two subheadings, the first of which, 4908.10, provides
for certain specialized decals referred to as vitrifiable transfers. The word “vitrify”
means to convert into glass or a glassy substance by means of heat and fusion. Thus,
vitrifiable decals are those designed to be applied to certain articles (e.g., of glass or
ceramics) which in turn will be “fired” in a kiln or the like, effecting a permanent fusing of
the image with the receiving object’s surface. New York Ruling Letter (NYRL) C88987
(June 16, 1998), for example, describes such a vitrifiable decal intended for use in the
decoration of a glass article. As indicated in the ruling, decals of this kind must be
manufactured using special vitrifiable materials (e.g., preparations of heading 3207,
HTSUS) that will withstand the heating process and produce the desired result.

Most decals fall in the second subheading, 4908.90, which provides for transfers other
than vitrifiable. These decals may be applied to a variety of objects (e.g., of metal,
plastic, wood, paperboard, textile fabric, etc.), which need not undergo any further
processing after the image has been transferred. The decals may serve any decorative
or utilitarian purpose, such as ornamenting a kitchen cabinet with a printed design (See

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NYRL L81901 of Jan. 26, 2005, which discusses that process), identifying the model
number of a machine, adding a logo to a tee-shirt, or even adorning the human body,
just to give a few examples.

The increasing popularity of “body art” has in fact led to an upsurge in the use of decals
known as “temporary tattoos,” which can be applied to the skin using the same
pressure/moisture method described above, and which can be easily removed with
alcohol, cold cream, etc. Often marketed toward children and teenagers, these
products also fall within subheading 4908.90. NYRL 884872 (April 22, 1993), for
example, describes a sheet of paper bearing four pictorial tattoo-decals on the front and
printed instructions on the back. The instructions advise the user to cut out the design
of his/her choice, place it face down on the skin, rub firmly with a damp cloth or sponge,
and peel the paper away after the image has been transferred. The resulting “tattoo,”
which is said to last up to several days, can be removed with baby oil or rubbing
alcohol. NYRL I87877 (Oct. 30, 2002) describes similar products, in this instance
known as “reward tattoos,” which can be applied to the skin and subsequently removed
in the same manner. Both rulings classify the temporary tattoos in subheading 4908.90,
HTSUS.

It should be noted that, in contrast to the other types of products discussed below,
decals are relatively insubstantial and delicate in terms of their physical being. Aside
from their carriers, they are nothing more than printed images on extremely thin, nearly
invisible coating-material substrates that are not meant to be handled. In ordinary
usage, one does not, for example, peel a decal off of its backing (carrier sheet) and
place it somewhere else with one’s fingers. It is not designed for such treatment, and
must be directly transferred, as described above, according to the particular
manufacturer’s instructions, which are usually provided.

DECORATIVE PAPER STICKERS

Unfortunately, the term “sticker” does not have as precise a meaning as the term
“decal,” and can legitimately be used to refer to a number of different kinds of products.
For the purposes of this publication, however, a sticker is a gummed piece of paper or
plastic that has been printed (with designs, pictures, words, characters, etc.), generally
for decorative use. Unlike decals, stickers typically are designed to be peeled off a
backing and simply stuck onto a surface using finger pressure. Stickers are not
specifically provided for, by name, in the HTSUS, and must be classified according to
their particular, individual characteristics. The first types to be dealt with are those
made of paper.

The decorative paper stickers marketed today are typically die-cut, self-adhesive paper
shapes put up for sale on release-paper backers, either in single sheets or in bound
pads or booklets. (“Release paper” is paper with a slick coating, e.g., silicone, which
will hold adhesive-coated products in place but which will also allow such products to be
easily peeled off when desired.) These stickers, often marketed toward children or

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teenagers, are printed with a wide variety of images, such as cartoon characters,
pictures of animals, abstract designs, trendy phrases, etc. They are typically used to
decorate notebooks, other personal possessions, stationery, gift packages and the like.
In addition to being sold on their own, decorative paper stickers are often included as
constituent parts of children’s arts & crafts or activity kits of various kinds.

The decorative paper stickers under discussion are generally classified as “other printed
matter,” in heading 4911, HTSUS. The specific applicable subheading depends on the
nature of the printed content and the type of printing process used to manufacture the
stickers.

Those that consist entirely, or essentially, of pictures or designs (i.e., with little or no
significant textual content), when printed by a lithographic process, usually fall in
subheading 4911.91.2040, which provides for pictures, designs and photographs:
lithographs on paper or paperboard, not over 0.51 mm in thickness. When printed by a
process other than lithography, these pictorial/design stickers instead fall in subheading
4911.91.4040, which provides for printed pictures, designs and photographs, other than
lithographs on paper. (Lithography is a printing process that employs a flat, as opposed
to a raised or engraved, printing plate. Offset lithography, the principal form of
lithographic printing, is now often referred to simply as “offset printing.”) NYRLs A85982
(Aug. 6, 1996) and I84846 (Aug. 13, 2002) provide examples of lithographically printed
pictorial/design stickers. Both rulings discuss pressure-sensitive paper stickers printed
with assorted designs, and classify the goods in subheading 4911.91.2040, HTSUS.
NYRL L81424 (Dec. 20, 2004), on the other hand, deals with pictorial stickers printed on
paper by a letterpress (raised-plate) process, and classifies them in subheading
4911.91.40, HTSUS.

Paper stickers printed with text, lettering and/or numerals generally fall in subheading
4911.99.6000 (if printed lithographically) or 4911.99.8000 (if printed by some other
method). These classifications also apply to paper stickers whose printed content
combines significant text/lettering with pictures/designs, e.g., the phrase “Totally
Awesome” prominently printed against a pictorial background. NYRL J89512 (Oct. 17,
2003), for example, deals with paper stickers that have been lithographically printed
with various words and phrases, and classifies them in subheading 4911.99.6000,
HTSUS. NYRL I85475 (Aug. 30, 2002) concerns, in pertinent part, paper stickers that
have been letterpress-printed with wording, numerals, letters of the alphabet, etc., and
classifies them in subheading 4911.99.8000, HTSUS.

It often happens that pictorial stickers are mixed with textual stickers on the same sheet,
or within the same booklet. CBP’s practice has been to classify such assortments on
the basis of the predominant type present in the retail package.

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PAPER STICKERS CONTRASTED WITH PAPER LABELS (HEADING
4911 VS. HEADING 4821)

Before proceeding to the topic of plastic stickers, we will digress to note that paper
labels, which are specifically provided for in heading 4821 of the HTSUS, can in many
cases be virtually indistinguishable, in physical form, from the paper stickers discussed
above. That is, they may be gummed, printed pieces of paper designed to be applied to
the surface of some other object. For tariff purposes, the difference lies in their principal
use. While the stickers under discussion are primarily decorative in nature, labels are
utilitarian, serving to convey specific, practical information about the items to which they
are attached (e.g., the identity and ingredients of a can of soup, the return address for a
piece of mail, the price and bar code for a bottle of vitamins, the ownership of a book).

In this regard, NYRL K86439 (June 25, 2004), which encompasses both paper labels of
heading 4821 and paper stickers of heading 4911, provides a useful contrast. One of
the products discussed in the ruling is a retail packet of 20 “bookplates,” each of which
is a 4-1/2” x 2-7/8” sheet of pressure-sensitive paper meant to be affixed to a book
(presumably inside the front cover). The face of each bookplate bears a design-printed
border and a caption reading, “This book belongs to: ____” or, in other instances, “From
the library of: ____”. The ruling goes on to classify the bookplates as paper labels of
heading 4821, HTSUS. On the other hand, the ruling also discusses different products,
identified as “happy stars stickers,” which are 5/8”-diameter, pressure-sensitive paper
discs printed with smiley-face star designs. These items, which, unlike the bookplates,
are not manifestly utilitarian in nature but rather are suitable for miscellaneous
decorative applications, are classified in the ruling as printed pictures of heading
4911.91, HTSUS.

FLAT, SELF-ADHESIVE PLASTIC STICKERS

Some decorative stickers are made of plastic film rather than paper. In appearance, flat
plastic stickers are similar to the paper ones, but generally are somewhat glossier and
more difficult to tear with the fingers. They are generally put up for sale on release-
paper or plastic backers (single sheets or bound booklets), from which they may be
easily peeled prior to placement on chosen surfaces. The plastic used to make them
may be of various kinds and colors, and in some cases may be “metallized” (very thinly
coated with a metallic substance such as aluminum) and/or printed with holographic
images. These stickers, if they are both flat and self-adhesive, are classifiable in
heading 3919 (usually subheading 3919.90.5060), HTSUS, which provides for self-
adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil, tape, strip and other flat shapes, of plastics. The term
“self-adhesive” means pressure-sensitive, which is defined in the Harmonized
Explanatory Notes (ENs) to heading 3919 as referring to products “which at room
temperature, without wetting or other addition, are permanently tacky (on one or both
sides) and which firmly adhere to a variety of dissimilar surfaces upon mere contact,
without the need for more than finger or hand pressure.”

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Flat, self-adhesive plastic stickers are classifiable in heading 3919 whether they are
printed or unprinted. Furthermore, variations in the nature of any printed content (e.g.,
pictures vs. text vs. repetitive patterns, etc.) do not alter their classification in this
instance. This is an important exception to the general rule that forces many other
printed plastic articles into chapter 49, HTSUS. The exception can be traced to Note 2
of Section VII, HTSUS, which states: “Except for the goods of heading 3918 or 3919,
plastics, rubber and articles thereof, printed with motifs, characters or pictorial
representations, which are not merely incidental to the primary use of the goods, fall in
chapter 49.” (Emphasis supplied.) This Note is clarified and reinforced by certain of the
Explanatory Notes. The General EN for Section VII, Note 2, states, in pertinent part,
that goods of heading 3919, even if bearing printed content not merely incidental to the
primary use of the goods, do not fall in chapter 49 but remain classified in heading
3919. The General EN for chapter 49 mirrors this concept by stating that goods of
heading 3919 are excluded from chapter 49.

NYRL J85425 (June 23, 2003), for example, classifies certain “retro success” stickers in
subheading 3919.90.5060, HTSUS. The items are described as flat, self-adhesive
plastic stickers printed with various designs, many incorporating words of praise or
encouragement. NYRL H83933 (July 25, 2001) concerns plastic self-adhesive stickers
that are in reality flat but bear holographic images giving the illusion of depth. Again,
the classification is subheading 3919.90.5060, HTSUS.

SPECIALIZED (3-DIMENSIONAL) PLASTIC STICKERS

While the flat types are probably the most common of the plastic stickers, certain
specialized varieties have three-dimensional profiles. “Puffy stickers,” for example, are
printed, self-adhesive, pillow-like articles consisting of plastic film that encases a foam
inner layer. Although they are printed, pressure-sensitive stickers, they possess a
three-dimensional, “puffy” quality, meaning that they are not considered “flat” for
purposes of heading 3919. Thus, since they are made of plastic but do not answer to
heading 3919, Note 2 of HTSUS Section VII applies, meaning that these stickers revert
to chapter 49 for classification purposes whenever they bear printed content that is
more than merely incidental. Printed plastic stickers that are not flat generally fall in
subheading 4911.91.4040 or 4911.99.8000, depending on their printed content. An
example may be found in HQRL 087363 (Aug. 14, 1990), which sets forth this rationale
and classifies some pictorial puffy stickers in subheading 4911.91.4040, HTSUS.

Another group of specialized stickers consists of the “domed” or “crystal” types, which
generally have convex-shaped, raised hard-plastic surfaces. Again, since these are not
flat, they fail to qualify for heading 3919 and fall in heading 4911. For example, in NYRL
L80856 (Nov. 29, 2004), certain convex plastic stickers, printed with pictures/designs
and intended for use in decorating packages or other articles, are classified in
subheading 4911.91.4040. In NYRL L87048 (Sept. 9, 2005), similar convex plastic

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stickers whose printed designs incorporate significant wording are classified in
subheading 4911.99.8000.

A third specialty group consists of items known as “gel stickers,” which are pliable, die-
cut shapes made of soft, jellylike plastic. They are not coated with adhesive, but their
consistency is such that they will adhere to smooth, nonporous surfaces such as mirrors
and window glass. However, because these stickers, which lack adhesive, adhere only
to smooth, nonporous surfaces and cannot adhere to a variety of dissimilar surfaces,
they fail to qualify for heading 3919 and fall in heading 4911 when they are printed.

It is important to note, however, that in some cases the specialized plastic stickers
under discussion may not be printed at all, or may be printed merely with coloration or a
repetitive design (such as a continuous series of dots, diamonds or squiggles). Mere
coloration or repetitive designs do not constitute “printed matter” for purposes of chapter
49, HTSUS. Thus, some specialized plastic stickers do not qualify for classification
either as products of heading 3919 or as “printed matter” of chapter 49. Such items
(e.g., an unprinted gel sticker, or a domed sticker printed with dots and color) are
usually classified in subheading 3926.40.0000, which provides for “other articles of
plastics: statuettes and other ornamental articles.” For example, NYRL H81460 (June
18, 2001) deals with certain “stick-on gems” described as convex, hard-plastic self-
adhesive discs in several shapes and colors. The ruling classifies them in subheading
3926.40.0000, HTSUS. Likewise, NYRL L82983 (Feb. 10, 2005) classifies certain
unprinted “hearts and flowers gel stickers” in that same tariff subheading.

WINDOW CLINGS

“Window clings”, which tend to be considerably larger in surface area than any of the
stickers previously discussed, generally consist of printed plastic sheets that adhere to
glass or other nonporous surfaces by the action of static electricity. Except for their
larger size, they resemble the flat, self-adhesive stickers of heading 3919, and are
typically supplied on paper/paperboard backers from which they are to be peeled.
However, they do not have any adhesive, and are often made of somewhat heavier-
gauge plastic so that they can withstand repeated handling and re-use.

Like the gel stickers, the window clings, which lack adhesive and are not tacky, do not
fall in heading 3919 because they do not adhere to a variety of dissimilar surfaces.
However, before classifying them as printed matter in chapter 49, one must first
consider the possibility that they may fall in heading 9505, HTSUS, which provides for
festive, carnival and other entertainment articles. Chapter 49, by virtue of its own Note
1(c), excludes goods of chapter 95. (NOTE: This is generally not a consideration with
any of the paper or plastic stickers discussed earlier in this report, since they are
frequently used to embellish packaging. Packaging-related items generally are
considered to be outside the scope of heading 9505.)

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Window clings, generally used for decorative purposes, often bear recognized holiday-
related symbols or phrases (e.g., a picture of Santa Claus or the words “Happy
Thanksgiving”), or entertainment-related words or imagery. Thus, window clings having
such printed content fall in subheadings 9505.10.25 (Christmas-related) or 9505.90.60
(other). Those with printed content not answering to the terms of heading 9505 fall in
subheadings 4911.91.4040 (pictures/designs) or 4911.99.8000 (wording, with or without
pictures/designs).

NYRLs K82279 (Jan. 8, 2004) and H88639 (Feb. 27, 2002), for example, describe
window clings bearing representations of Christmas motifs (Santa Claus, Christmas
wreaths, Christmas tree ornaments, etc.), and classify them as Christmas festive
articles/ornaments, in subheading 9505.10.25, HTSUS. NYRL K84842 (April 14, 2004)
describes a window cling bearing a red heart design incorporating the words “Happy
Valentine’s Day,” and classifies the product as “other festive articles,” in subheading
9505.90.60, HTSUS. However, the same ruling also discusses some other window
clings bearing wordless heart designs not clearly related to any particular holiday or
festive occasion. The ruling holds that these more generic styles convey an overall
imagery of “country, cuteness, etc.,” and can be suitably displayed at any time. They
are therefore classified as printed pictures/designs in subheading 4911.91, HTSUS.

Plastic window clings that are not printed, or are printed merely with coloration or
repetitive designs, fall in subheading 3926.40. NYRL K88350 (Aug. 31, 2004), for
example, deals with multi-piece, multi-colored “window gel clings” made of a
thermoplastic elastomer. The products consist of several soft, jellylike, unprinted plastic
shapes designed to be arranged on a windowpane to form decorative designs. The
shapes adhere to the glass without adhesive. Since they are not “printed matter,” the
ruling classifies these items as statuettes and other ornamental articles of plastics, in
subheading 3926.40, HTSUS.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Internet

The home page of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the Internet’s World Wide
Web, provides the trade community with current, relevant information regarding CBP
operations and items of special interest. The site posts information -- which includes
proposed regulations, news releases, publications and notices, etc. -- that can be
searched, read on-line, printed or downloaded to your personal computer. The web site
was established as a trade-friendly mechanism to assist the importing and exporting
community. The web site also links to the home pages of many other agencies whose
importing or exporting regulations that U.S. Customs and Border Protection helps to
enforce. The web site also contains a wealth of information of interest to a broader
public than the trade community. For instance, on June 20, 2001, CBP launched the
“Know Before You Go” publication and traveler awareness campaign designed to help
educate international travelers.

The web address of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is http://www.cbp.gov

Customs Regulations

The current edition of Customs Regulations of the United States is a loose-leaf,
subscription publication available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; telephone (202) 512-1800. A
bound, 2006 edition of Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations, which incorporates all
changes to the Regulations as of April 1, 2006, is also available for sale from the same
address. All proposed and final regulations are published in the Federal Register, which
is published daily by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records
Administration, and distributed by the Superintendent of Documents. Information about
on-line access to the Federal Register may be obtained by calling (202) 512-1530
between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time. These notices are also published in the
weekly CBP Bulletin described below.

Customs and Border Protection Bulletin

The Customs and Border Protection Bulletin and Decisions (“CBP Bulletin”) is a weekly
publication that contains decisions, rulings, regulatory proposals, notices and other
information of interest to the trade community. It also contains decisions issued by the
U.S. Court of International Trade, as well as customs-related decisions of the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Each year, the Government Printing Office publishes
bound volumes of the CBP Bulletin. Subscriptions may be purchased from the
Superintendent of Documents at the address and phone number listed above.

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Importing Into the United States

This publication provides an overview of the importing process and contains general
information about import requirements. The February 2002 edition of Importing Into the
United States contains much new and revised material brought about pursuant to the
Customs Modernization Act (“Mod Act”). The Mod Act has fundamentally altered the
relationship between importers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by shifting to
the importer the legal responsibility for declaring the value, classification, and rate of
duty applicable to entered merchandise.

The February 2002 edition contains a section entitled "Informed Compliance." A key
component of informed compliance is the shared responsibility between U.S. Customs
and Border Protection and the import community, wherein CBP communicates its
requirements to the importer, and the importer, in turn, uses reasonable care to assure
that CBP is provided accurate and timely data pertaining to his or her importation.

Single copies may be obtained from local offices of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, or from the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20229. An on-line version is
available at the CBP web site. Importing Into the United States is also available for
sale, in single copies or bulk orders, from the Superintendent of Documents by calling
(202) 512-1800, or by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing
Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7054.

Informed Compliance Publications

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has prepared a number of Informed Compliance
publications in the “What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know
About:...” series. Check the Internet web site http://www.cbp.gov for current
publications.

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Value Publications

Customs Valuation under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 is a 96-page book
containing a detailed narrative description of the customs valuation system, the customs
valuation title of the Trade Agreements Act (§402 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
by the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. §1401a)), the Statement of
Administrative Action which was sent to the U.S. Congress in conjunction with the TAA,
regulations (19 C.F.R. §§152.000-152.108) implementing the valuation system (a few
sections of the regulations have been amended subsequent to the publication of the
book) and questions and answers concerning the valuation system. A copy may be
obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Regulations and Rulings,
Value Branch, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, (Mint Annex) NW, Washington, D.C. 20229.

Customs Valuation Encyclopedia (with updates) is comprised of relevant statutory
provisions, CBP Regulations implementing the statute, portions of the Customs
Valuation Code, judicial precedent, and administrative rulings involving application of
valuation law. A copy may be purchased for a nominal charge from the Superintendent
of Documents, Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-
7054. This publication is also available on the Internet web site of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection.

The information provided in this publication is for general information
purposes only. Recognizing that many complicated factors may be
involved in customs issues, an importer may wish to obtain a ruling under
CBP Regulations, 19 C.F.R. Part 177, or obtain advice from an expert
(such as a licensed Customs Broker, attorney or consultant) who
specializes in customs matters. Reliance solely on the general
information in this pamphlet may not be considered reasonable care.

Additional information may also be obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection
ports of entry. Please consult your telephone directory for an office near you. The
listing will be found under U.S. Government, Department of Homeland Security.

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Decals, Decorative Stickers and “Window Clings”
January 2007

“Your Comments are Important”

The Small Business and Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and 10 regional
Fairness Boards were established to receive comments from small businesses about
Federal agency enforcement activities and rate each agency’s responsiveness to small
business. If you wish to comment on the enforcement actions of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247).

REPORT SMUGGLING 1-800-BE-ALERT OR 1-888-NO-DROGA

Visit our Internet web site: http://www.cbp.gov

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