Testliner (Recycled Liner Board), Uncoated, Over 150 g/m², in Rolls or Sheets

Subheading 480524 covers testliner weighing 150 g/m² or less, while 480525 covers material weighing more than 150 g/m². The boundary is exclusive: a sheet at exactly 150 g/m² falls under 480524. CBP may request mill test certificates or independent laboratory weight measurements to verify the basis weight, particularly for shipments near the threshold. Using a certified average roll weight rather than a nominal specification is advisable.

European mills — particularly in Germany, Poland, Spain, and France — have invested heavily in large-scale recovered-paper processing infrastructure, enabling efficient production of high-basis-weight testliner grades. The EU's mature paper-recycling collection systems provide a consistent recovered-fiber feedstock. When US demand for heavy recycled linerboard exceeds domestic capacity or specific grades are unavailable locally, these European sources become competitive despite transatlantic freight costs.