If running a successful export business required all company employees to be experts on international trade, very few companies would succeed. The scope of exporting is too vast, and the rules change almost as quickly as one can learn the current regulations. Instead, leading global manufacturers such as UTC Aerospace Systems identify the most important aspects of exporting and enlist experts to educate employees. In July, UTC Aerospace Systems’ business located in Jamestown, ND, called on The North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO) to create a customized training program on classifying goods using the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) and the Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCN).
“A thorough knowledge of the HTS and ECCN’s is essential for anyone involved in global trade,” said Sharon May, Director of Market Research and Export Education for NDTO. “NDTO developed a customized training program for UTC Aerospace Systems to help teach their engineers about this specific aspect of exporting. Our goal with customized training programs is to take the burden off the shoulders of company presidents and managers and share our expertise with company staff, empowering them to feel confident and comfortable.”
Proper classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule is one of the many regulatory requirements of U.S. Customs. The basis of the UTC Aerospace Systems Harmonized Tariff Course was helping attendees understand the hierarchy of classification using the General Rules of Interpretation. The NDTO workshop focused on how the Harmonized System is structured, how it works, and how to apply that knowledge to properly classify goods; this translates into exports under Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) as well.
Ms. May, who developed and taught the class, took 20 UTC Aerospace Systems engineers step-by-step through the General Rules of Interpretation that govern how the hierarchy of classification is applied to arrive at the correct commodity code. She also emphasized the role that country of origin plays in classification.
“This course is a basic primer for understanding the classification process and an excellent refresher for active practitioners who want to hone and refine their classification skills,” said Dean Gorder, Executive Director of the North Dakota Trade Office. “NDTO staff has years of expertise in this topic, amongst many others, and our goal is to share this knowledge with exporters across the state.”
UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.
For more information on customized training programs, contact Sharon May at Sharon@ndto.com