[Music]
Hello, I'm Larry Graham with
the Foreign Trade Division
of the U.S Census Bureau.
This instructional
video will teach you how
to use the Schedule B
Search on our website:
www.census.gov/scheduleb.
The Foreign Trade Division
provides a Schedule B search
tool to help exporters
and filers find their
correct export commodity code
or Schedule B number.
Schedule B Numbers are needed
to complete Electronic Export
Information and can be used
to identify foreign markets
where similar products are
currently being exported.
Wrong classification
codes can result
in goods being held in customs.
The more information you have
about your product
before you begin,
the more successful
your search will be.
This is more than a
simple key word search.
The program can interpret common
commercial product information,
and interacts intelligently
and intuitively with users
to eliminate classification
complexity.
Since this search
engine is interactive,
be prepared to answer multiple
questions about your product.
Some searches are as simple
as entering your product
and getting a Schedule B number.
Others are more complex.
Now, let's begin on the
Foreign Trade Division site,
clicking on "Search" brings you
to the Schedule B search
engine page, where you can type
in your product description.
Say we have a woman's
winter coat made
of 70% polyester and 30% cotton.
In the box next to
"My product is:" type
"coat" and click "SEARCH".
The search engine will ask you
to provide more information.
Ours is an outerwear coat.
The next two options are
"knitted or crocheted"
or "other", which
includes woven.
Note the small blue box next
to the option for "babies".
This is an indication that
there is a legal definition
for this term.
Explanatory Note
definitions can be seen
when the mouse is rolled
over the blue icon.
Select "women's or girls'".
On the next screen, type in "30"
next to "% cotton" and "70" next
to "% man-made fiber"
for the polyester.
Click "accept".
Read the 4-digit heading
and 6-digit subheading
to confirm this is where
your product belongs.
If so, then click on
"Get Schedule B Number".
Read all 10 digit
descriptions to find the one
that best matches your product.
Since our winter coat
is not a raincoat,
we choose 6202.13.5000.
There are two required units of
measure: Dozens and Kilograms.
Make sure you report both.
Some other features to be aware
of: If you want to change one
of your selections, you
can click on "modify" next
to the known or assumed
characteristics
For example, let's search fish.
Then click "show" under
assumed characteristics -
You can see the search assumes
that the fish are NOT a
collection of scientific
or historical interest,
nor toys, bait, and so on.
But let' say we are
looking to classify bait.
Clicking "modify" next to
the "use" expands the option,
and we can select "bait".
Then we are taken
down a different path
to the bait chapter.
Section E: Some search
tips to remember:
Only describe one product at a
time Do not use: and, or, no,
not, except; Describe
percentages as "X % material"
for example 70% cotton
Ask for help.
Email or call us for assistance.
; We hope this video
makes it easier
to navigate through the search.
The questions asked are
necessary to determine
where your goods are classified;
the intelligent-search is using
complex classification rules
like the General Rules
of Interpretation
and Customs Rulings
automatically,
so you don't have to.
One last thing: You can
click on the "help" button
in the upper right corner to
find more information on how
to use the search, or
get further assistance
by sending us an email
or giving us a call.
Thank you for watching and
good luck with your exports!