Saw blade classification under the HTS depends on factors including the base material (steel, carbide), the type of blade (circular, band, reciprocating), and whether teeth are set or interchangeable. Carbide-tipped blades and high-speed steel blades may fall under different HTS subheadings with different duty rates and Section 301 exposure. A binding ruling from CBP is advisable when the classification is not clear-cut.

CBP applies a 'substantial transformation' test to determine origin for handtools. Importers should obtain manufacturer affidavits, production records, and bills of materials showing where the primary manufacturing operations — forging, machining, heat treatment, and assembly — occurred. Simply assembling imported components in a third country is generally insufficient to confer origin if the essential character was imparted elsewhere.