The products covered by this order are all large residential washers and certain parts thereof from the People’s Republic of China. For purposes of this order, the term “large residential washers” denotes all automatic clothes washing machines, regardless of the orientation of the rotational axis, with a cabinet width (measured from its widest point) of at least 24.5 inches (62.23 cm) and no more than 32.0 inches (81.28 cm), except as noted below.
Also covered are certain parts used in large residential washers, namely: (1) all cabinets, or portions thereof, designed for use in large residential washers; (2) all assembled tubs (footnote 1) designed for use in large residential washers which incorporate, at a minimum: (a) a tub; and (b) a seal; (3) all assembled baskets (footnote 2) designed for use in large residential washers which incorporate, at a minimum: (a) a side wrapper (footnote 3); (b) a base; and (c) a drive hub (footnote 4); and (4) any combination of the foregoing parts or subassemblies.
Excluded from the scope are stacked washer-dryers and commercial washers. The term “stacked washer-dryers” denotes distinct washing and drying machines that are built on a unitary frame and share a common console that controls both the washer and the dryer. The term “commercial washer” denotes an automatic clothes washing machine designed for the “pay per use” segment meeting either of the following two definitions:
(1) (a) it contains payment system electronics (footnote 5); (b) it is configured with an externally mounted steel frame at least six inches high that is designed to house a coin/token operated payment system (whether or not the actual coin/token operated payment system is installed at the time of importation); (c) it contains a push button user interface with a maximum of six manually selectable wash cycle settings, with no ability of the end user to otherwise modify water temperature, water level, or spin speed for a selected wash cycle setting; and (d) the console containing the user interface is made of steel and is assembled with security fasteners (footnote 6); or
(2) (a) it contains payment system electronics; (b) the payment system electronics are enabled (whether or not the payment acceptance device has been installed at the time of importation) such that, in normal operation (footnote 7), the unit cannot begin a wash cycle without first receiving a signal from a bona fide payment acceptance device such as an electronic credit card reader; (c) it contains a push button user interface with a maximum of six manually selectable wash cycle settings, with no ability of the end user to otherwise modify water temperature, water level, or spin speed for a selected wash cycle setting; and (d) the console containing the user interface is made of steel and is assembled with security fasteners.
Also excluded from the scope are automatic clothes washing machines that meet all of the following conditions: (1) have a vertical rotational axis; (2) are top loading (footnote 8); (3) have a drive train consisting, inter alia, of (a) a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor (footnote 9), (b) a belt drive (footnote 10), and (c) a flat wrap spring clutch (footnote 11).
Also excluded from the scope are automatic clothes washing machines that meet all of the following conditions: (1) have a horizontal rotational axis; (2) are front loading (footnote 12); and (3) have a drive train consisting, inter alia, of (a) a controlled induction motor (CIM) (footnote 13), and (b) a belt drive.
Also excluded from the scope are automatic clothes washing machines that meet all of the following conditions: (1) have a horizontal rotational axis; (2) are front loading; and (3) have cabinet width (measured from its widest point) of more than 28.5 inches (72.39 cm).
The products subject to this order are currently classifiable under subheadings 8450.20.0040 and 8450.20.0080 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Products subject to this order may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 8450.11.0040, 8450.11.0080, 8450.90.2000, and 8450.90.6000. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise subject to this order is dispositive.
Footnote 1: A “tub” is the part of the washer designed to hold water.
Footnote 2: A “basket” (sometimes referred to as a “drum”) is the part of the washer designed to hold clothing or other fabrics.
Footnote 3: A “side wrapper” is the cylindrical part of the basket that actually holds the clothing or other fabrics.
Footnote 4: A “drive hub” is the hub at the center of the base that bears the load from the motor.
Footnote 5: “Payment system electronics” denotes a circuit board designed to receive signals from a payment acceptance device and to display payment amount, selected settings, and cycle status. Such electronics also capture cycles and payment history and provide for transmission to a reader.
Footnote 6: A “security fastener” is a screw with a non-standard head that requires a non-standard driver. Examples include those with a pin in the center of the head as a “center pin reject” feature to prevent standard Allen wrenches or Torx drivers from working.
Footnote 7: “Normal operation” refers to the operating mode(s) available to end users (i.e., not a mode designed for testing or repair by a technician).
Footnote 8: “Top loading” means that access to the basket is from the top of the washer.
Footnote 9: A “PSC motor” is an asynchronous, alternating current (AC), single phase induction motor that employs split phase capacitor technology.
Footnote 10: A “belt drive” refers to a drive system that includes a belt and pulleys.
Footnote 11: A “flat wrap spring clutch” is a flat metal spring that, when engaged, links abutted cylindrical pieces on the input shaft with the end of the concentric output shaft that connects to the drive hub.
Footnote 12: “Front loading” means that access to the basket is from the front of the washer.
Footnote 13: A “controlled induction motor” is an asynchronous, alternating current (AC), polyphase induction motor. |