The Product
- Two pieces made of genuine cow leather: a cross-body utility bag and a half vest.
- Each piece carries one side of a zipper, so the two can be connected.
- The bag measures about 10 by 16 by 4.5 inches and has several zippered compartments for the larger personal effects of travel.
- The half vest attaches to the bag as needed to give it extra storage and support.
CBP's Ruling
| Item | HTS code | CBP's description of the line |
|---|---|---|
| Style# HLM78248, leather travel bag with half vest | HTS 4202.91.9030 | travel, sports, and similar bags, with an outer surface of leather |
Explanation
CBP treated the utility bag on its own as a cross-body travel bag, which heading 4202 covers. The half vest isn't a garment or an accessory for tariff purposes; it is designed to attach to the bag for extra storage and support.
Because the two pieces are adapted to each other, CBP treated them as composite goods under General Rule of Interpretation 3(b), which classifies such goods by the component that gives them their essential character. The complete two-piece article exists to store, protect, carry and organize personal effects, so the travel bag gives it its essential character. CBP placed the whole article on the line for travel, sports and similar bags with an outer surface of leather; both pieces are made of cow leather.
What would change the answer
- The letter notes that the half vest imported on its own would be classified in heading 4205 as an article of leather.
Does this apply to your product?
It likely does if you can answer yes to each of these:
- Is it a cross-body bag with zippered compartments for personal effects during travel?
- Is the outer surface leather?
- Does any add-on piece attach to the bag to give it storage and support?
A no to any of them can mean a different code. A licensed broker can classify your product.
The code today
| HTS code | In today's schedule | Where it sits | Today's duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4202.91.9030 | ✓ Still in the schedule | Heading 4202 › With outer surface of leather or of composition leather › Travel, sports and similar bags | Today's duty from India |
Checked against today's tariff schedule. The duty calculator opens with the code and country filled in.
Related rulings
N357077 puts jewelry boxes on the same line. N294814 covers a duffle bag, a messenger bag and a travel bag, and N241798, N251622 and N238571 also cover travel bags.
- N241798May 20, 2013Travel bag from India4202.91.0030
- N357077December 18, 2025Jewelry boxes from India4202.91.9030
- N294814March 28, 2018Duffle bag, a messenger bag, and a travel bag from Mongolia4202.11.0030, 4202.91.9030
- N325305May 5, 2022Wine bottle case from India4202.91.9090
- N251622April 7, 2014Travel bag from China4202.91.0030
- N254749July 24, 2014Tote bag from India4202.91.0030
- N238527March 15, 2013Tote bag from India4202.91.0030
- N238571March 15, 2013Handbag and a travel bag from China4202.21.9000, 4202.91.0030
Borderless, a licensed U.S. customs brokerage, summarized CBP ruling N344137 in plain English and checked its codes against the letter and today's tariff schedule. A ruling applies only to goods that match its facts; our terms explain the rest. Terms