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October 2024, question 37

Classification · Classification: GRIs, notes and headings

Which merchandise described below is CLASSIFIED under 8536.70.0000?

  1. This unit is a 2" plastic cube with a single crimping tube through the cube. A single multi-strand fibre optic cable is pushed through the crimping tube which stabilizes the cable allowing fibre optic cable to be split into smaller strands which allows the signal to be split and connected to multiple devices.
  2. This unit is a 4" plastic cube with color-coded input and output ports on opposite ends of the cube. Each port contains a clamping tube into which the end of the fibre optic cable is inserted. Fibre optic bundles of colors matching the color-coded ports are inserted into the input and output ports. The purpose of the cube is to align the optical fibres end-to-end in a line. The cube does not amplify or modify the signal carried by the fibre optic bundles.
  3. This unit is a rectangular 4"x3"x2" plastic box with a single port at each end. The box contains a signal amplifying integrated circuit which is used to increase the incoming signal from the optical fiber bundle inserted into the incoming port of the box and send the amplified signal through the optical fiber bundle inserted into the outgoing port of the box.
  4. This unit is an 8"x8"x2" metal box with four (4) banks of optical fibre ports. The box contains multiple signal repeating integrated circuits which are used to boost the signal quality of the incoming signal from the optical fiber bundle before the signal exits through the outgoing fibre optic bundles.
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CBP's answer: B. B: This unit is a 4" plastic cube with color-coded input and output ports on opposite ends of the cube. Each port contains a clamping tube into which the end of the fibre optic cable is inserted. Fibre optic bundles of colors matching the color-coded ports are inserted into the input and output ports. The purpose of the cube is to align the optical fibres end-to-end in a line. The cube does not amplify or modify the signal carried by the fibre optic bundles.

Chapter 85 Note 9 defines connectors for optical fibers as those that simply mechanically align fibers end to end and do no more, such as amplifying or modifying the signal. The 4-inch cube that aligns bundles end to end is such a connector (B). The splitter, the amplifier and the repeater box do other work.

means connectors that simply mechanically align optical fibres end to end in a digital line system. They perform no other function, such as the amplification, regeneration or modification of a signal. Chapter 85, Note 9

Search for: connectors for optical fibers simply mechanically align

CBP's key cites: HTSUS 8536.70.0000; Chapter 85, Note 9

Question and key from CBP's October 2024 exam and answer key. The walk-through is ours; quotes are from the pinned editions in the reference viewer (HTSUS 2026 Basic, 19 CFR 2025 edition).