# Kanon

> Kanon is a deterministic HTSUS classification platform for U.S. importers and customs brokers. It evaluates the complete Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States corpus in the legally mandated sequence and produces an audit-defensible Classification Support Package.

Kanon is not a lookup tool. It is a classification engine that traverses all applicable General Rules of Interpretation (GRI 1 through 6), Additional U.S. Rules of Interpretation, general notes, section notes, chapter notes, subheading notes, Additional U.S. Notes, headings, subheadings, Chapter 98 and 99 overlays, and CBP binding rulings — in the sequence the law requires — and records every decision point. The same product attributes evaluated against the same corpus version always produce the same HTS code.

**Primary users:** U.S. importers, customs brokers, and trade compliance professionals who need defensible, auditable HTS classification.

**Core output:** Classification Support Package — an immutable record of the full GRI traversal, the sections of law applied at each step, the product attributes that drove each decision, and the final HTS code with applicable duty rates.

**What Kanon does not do:** Kanon does not guess. It does not return a confidence score. It does not offer multiple possible codes. It returns one deterministic answer, or it flags that additional information is required.

## Pages

- [Home](https://kanontrade.com/): Product overview, value proposition, sample classification output
- [Classify a Product](https://kanontrade.com/classify.html): Classification intake form — submit a product for HTS classification; requires registration
- [How it works](https://kanontrade.com/how-it-works.html): Step-by-step GRI traversal workflow, Classification Support Package format, CBP audit defense
- [Why Kanon](https://kanontrade.com/why-kanon.html): Corpus completeness explanation — 11 HTSUS layers, 4 CBP regulatory sources, determinism requirement
- [Pricing](https://kanontrade.com/pricing.html): Pricing plans (coming soon)
- [About](https://kanontrade.com/about.html): Company background, brand, and mission
- [Terms of Service](https://kanontrade.com/terms.html): Terms governing use of the Kanon platform
- [Privacy Policy](https://kanontrade.com/privacy.html): Data handling and privacy practices

## Key concepts

**HTSUS:** The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States — the legal tariff schedule published by the U.S. International Trade Commission that governs the classification of all goods imported into the United States.

**HTS code:** An 8-10 digit code from the HTSUS that identifies a product category and determines applicable duty rates, trade remedies, and regulatory requirements.

**GRI (General Rules of Interpretation):** The six rules, established in the HTSUS, that specify the legally mandated sequence for classifying a product. GRI 1 is evaluated first; subsequent rules are only applied when earlier rules do not yield a single classification.

**Classification Support Package (CSP):** Kanon's primary output — a structured record of the complete classification evaluation including: the product attributes used, each corpus layer evaluated, the GRI rule applied at each decision point, the sections of law cited, and the final HTS code.

**Corpus version:** Each USITC publication of the HTSUS creates a new immutable corpus version. Kanon pins each classification record to the corpus version in effect at the time of classification.

**CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection):** The U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing customs laws. CBP can audit importers' HTS classifications; the Classification Support Package is designed to support CBP audit defense.

**Section 301 / Chapter 99:** Additional duty overlays — including tariffs on goods from China and other trade remedy measures — evaluated in Layer 2 of Kanon's classification process.

## What Kanon is not

- Not a database of pre-classified products
- Not a fuzzy-search or lookup tool
- Not a tool that produces multiple possible codes for the user to choose from
- Not affiliated with CBP, USITC, or any government agency
- Not a substitute for a licensed customs broker for complex or high-stakes determinations

## Glossary

The Kanon HTSUS Classification Glossary defines 50 key terms across 5 categories. Every term page includes a precise definition, an In Detail section, classification significance for CBP compliance, and how Kanon handles the concept programmatically.

- [Glossary Index](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/index.html): All 50 terms organized by category with one-sentence descriptions.
- [Full glossary — plain text](https://kanontrade.com/llms-full.txt): All 50 definitions in a single plain-text file optimized for LLM ingestion.

### HTSUS Structure (11 terms)

- [HTSUS](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/htsus.html): The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States — the legal document listing every import duty rate and classification code.
- [HTS Code](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/hts-code.html): The 10-digit number used to classify every imported good, determining duty rate and trade remedy exposure.
- [Harmonized System (HS)](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/harmonized-system.html): The WCO international product nomenclature providing the first 6 digits shared across 200+ countries.
- [Schedule B](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/schedule-b.html): The U.S. export classification system maintained by Census — distinct from the HTSUS used for imports.
- [HTSUS vs. Schedule B](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/htsus-vs-schedule-b.html): Comparison of the two U.S. tariff nomenclatures — import vs. export, CBP vs. Census.
- [Section Notes](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/section-notes.html): Legal provisions governing classification across all chapters within a HTSUS section — binding under GRI 1.
- [Chapter Notes](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/chapter-notes.html): Legal provisions within each HTSUS chapter defining scope, exclusions, and classification rules.
- [Subheading Notes](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/subheading-notes.html): Notes applying only when comparing subheadings within the same heading under GRI 6.
- [Additional U.S. Notes](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/additional-us-notes.html): U.S.-specific notes supplementing the international HS chapter notes — definitions, TRQs, U.S.-only rules.
- [Statistical Suffix](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/statistical-suffix.html): The 9th and 10th digits of the 10-digit HTS code, used for Census trade statistics.
- [USITC](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/usitc.html): The U.S. International Trade Commission — publishes the HTSUS and administers trade injury investigations.

### Classification Rules (14 terms)

- [GRI (General Rules of Interpretation)](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/gri.html): The six mandatory rules governing every HTSUS classification — applied in strict sequence.
- [GRI 1](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/gri-1.html): Classification by heading text and section/chapter notes — the primary rule applied before any other.
- [GRI 2](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/gri-2.html): Extends heading scope to incomplete articles (2a) and mixtures/combinations (2b).
- [GRI 3](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/gri-3.html): Resolves conflicts when goods are classifiable under two or more headings — via 3a, 3b, or 3c.
- [GRI 4](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/gri-4.html): Fallback classification under the heading for most similar goods.
- [GRI 5](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/gri-5.html): Classification of containers and packaging — with goods or separately.
- [GRI 6](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/gri-6.html): Applies GRI 1–5 at the subheading level to determine the correct 6-digit subheading.
- [Additional U.S. Rules of Interpretation](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/additional-us-rules-of-interpretation.html): Four U.S.-specific rules supplementing the GRI — principal use, eo nomine, parts, accessories.
- [Essential Character](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/essential-character.html): The GRI 3b concept identifying which component gives a composite good its fundamental nature.
- [Composite Goods](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/composite-goods.html): Goods of different materials classifiable under two or more headings — resolved under GRI 3.
- [Sets (GRI 3b)](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/sets-classification.html): Goods put up in sets for retail sale — classified by the component giving the set essential character.
- [Principal Use](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/principal-use.html): Additional U.S. Rule 1(a) — classification follows the primary use of goods of that class or kind in the U.S.
- [Eo Nomine](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/eo-nomine.html): Classification by specific name — covers all forms and varieties unless the heading limits scope.
- [Ejusdem Generis](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/ejusdem-generis.html): Canon limiting catch-all phrases to goods of the same kind as specifically named items.

### CBP & Regulatory (11 terms)

- [CBP](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/cbp.html): U.S. Customs and Border Protection — enforces import laws, collects duties, issues rulings, conducts audits.
- [CBP Binding Ruling](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/cbp-binding-ruling.html): Formal written determination from CBP on HTS classification, country of origin, or customs value — legally binding.
- [CROSS Database](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/cross-database.html): CBP's public database of all binding rulings — authoritative classification precedent.
- [CBP Audit](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/cbp-audit.html): Systematic review of importer records — most commonly a Focused Assessment on HTS, valuation, and origin.
- [CF-28](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/cf-28.html): CBP's formal request for information to support a classification, valuation, or origin determination.
- [CF-29](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/cf-29.html): CBP's notice that it has reclassified or adjusted an entry — triggers 90-day protest window.
- [CBP Protest](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/cbp-protest.html): Administrative remedy to challenge a CBP classification or liquidation — filed within 180 days on Form 19.
- [Licensed Customs Broker](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/customs-broker.html): CBP-licensed professional authorized to transact customs business — responsible for HTS classification on entries.
- [Importer of Record](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/importer-of-record.html): Party legally responsible for entry accuracy, duty payment, and compliance with U.S. import laws.
- [Prior Disclosure](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/prior-disclosure.html): Voluntary self-disclosure to CBP of a violation before formal investigation — reduces penalties to unpaid duties + interest.
- [Entry Summary (CBP Form 7501)](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/entry-summary.html): Primary document filed with CBP to consummate formal entry — reports HTS code, customs value, duties, Chapter 99 overlays.

### Trade Remedies (9 terms)

- [Trade Remedy](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/trade-remedy.html): Government measure protecting domestic industries from unfair or injurious imports — ADD, CVD, Section 301, 232, IEEPA.
- [Chapter 99 Overlays](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/chapter-99-overlays.html): HTSUS chapter containing temporary duty provisions — mechanism for all trade remedy tariffs stacked on base HTS codes.
- [Section 301 Tariffs](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/section-301-tariffs.html): Additional duties on Chinese-origin goods under the Trade Act of 1974 — 7.5% to 100%+ by product category.
- [Section 232 Tariffs](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/section-232-tariffs.html): National-security duties on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
- [IEEPA Tariffs](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/ieepa-tariffs.html): Duties imposed by presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
- [Antidumping Duty (ADD)](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/antidumping-duty.html): Duty on goods sold below fair market value in the U.S. — administered by Commerce, collected by CBP.
- [Countervailing Duty (CVD)](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/countervailing-duty.html): Duty offsetting foreign government subsidies — administered by Commerce, collected by CBP.
- [USTR Exclusion](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/ustr-exclusion.html): Time-limited, product-specific exemption from Section 301 tariffs — requires its own Chapter 99 code on entry.
- [Country of Origin](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/country-of-origin.html): Country where a good was produced or last substantially transformed — determines duty column, Section 301, ADD/CVD scope.

### Duty & Tariff (5 terms)

- [MFN Duty Rate](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/mfn-duty-rate.html): Column 1, General duty rate — standard rate for WTO members with Normal Trade Relations status.
- [Ad Valorem Duty](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/ad-valorem-duty.html): Tariff as a percentage of customs value — most common duty structure in the HTSUS.
- [Column 2 Duty Rate](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/column-2-duty-rate.html): Rate for non-NTR countries (Cuba, North Korea, Russia for many products) — Smoot-Hawley era rates.
- [Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/merchandise-processing-fee.html): CBP user fee of 0.3464% of customs value per formal entry, with per-entry min/max caps.
- [Classification Support Package](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/classification-support-package.html): Kanon's primary output — immutable, auditable record of a complete HTS classification with full legal reasoning chain.

### Interpretation Canons (4 terms)

- [Mutatis Mutandis](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/mutatis-mutandis.html): Latin phrase in GRI 6 — applies GRIs 1–5 to subheading classification "with the necessary changes."
- [Lex Specialis](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/lex-specialis.html): Specific law controls over general law — the framework behind note hierarchies and GRI 3(a) specificity.
- [Noscitur a Sociis](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/noscitur-a-sociis.html): "A word is known by the company it keeps" — canon used by CBP and CIT to resolve ambiguous heading terms.
- [Expressio Unius](https://kanontrade.com/glossary/expressio-unius.html): Expression of one thing excludes others — makes chapter note enumerated lists exhaustive, not illustrative.