Before You File...Don't Trust, Verify

Before You File...Don't Trust, Verify

A Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing AI-Generated HTS Classifications

The Problem This Workbook Solves

You're using AI to generate HTS classifications. The codes look right. You review them — meaning you look at them, recognize them as plausible, and move on. Then a CF28 arrives.

CBP doesn't ask what code you used. They ask how you decided. And if your answer is "the AI generated it and I accepted it" — you don't have a defensible process. You have exposure.

CBP Ruling HQ H350722 (January 2026) made it explicit: an AI tool is not a person under customs law. The legal responsibility for every classification belongs to the importer of record. Technology can assist. It cannot be responsible.

What's Inside

A 127-page workbook built from 30+ years of customs compliance experience — knowing what CBP looks for in an audit and what documentation actually survives a CF28.

The 5-Step Review Protocol — a structured, repeatable process that takes approximately 15 minutes per classification and produces a documented record that holds up under CBP scrutiny.

The Classification Review Record (Appendix A) — the document you use in practice. Captures the who, what, and why of each decision in a format designed for the moment you need to explain a determination you made 18 months ago.

Red Flags and Escalation Guidance — when to stop, when to verify, and when to call your broker or counsel. Some classifications require expert human judgment. This section tells you which ones.

GRI Plain Language Reference — the General Rules of Interpretation in working English, not legal theory.

Key Resources and Where to Find Them — CROSS, HTSUS, CBP binding rulings, explanatory notes.

Who This Is For

In-house compliance professionals and teams using AI classification tools who need a review process that is both practical and defensible. Works equally well for manual classification — the reasonable care standard doesn't change based on your tools.

Who This Is Not For

This is not legal advice. It is not a CBP binding ruling. It does not replace your customs broker or counsel on complex classifications, high-duty-rate items, or anything with significant tariff exposure.

About The Author

Trudy Wilson, LCB | CCS | MBA is the founder of TrüTrade Solutions, Inc. and leads a team with more than 48 years of combined trade compliance experience. She holds an MBA and maintains active memberships in ICPA, NCBFAA, OWIT, AIFBA, and the Kentucky World Trade Center.

Format: PDF download — 127 pages

Delivery: Immediate upon purchase