RE: The country of origin of a pneumatic blow gun

U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Commodity Specialist Division One World Trade Center, Suite 51.201 New York, NY 10007 U.S. Customs and Border Protection N365610 October 14, 2026 OT:RR:NC:N1:105 CATEGORY: Origin Icey Huang Autowin Group Limited Flat/RM 08, 15/F Witty Commercial Building 1A-1L Tung Choi Street Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong China RE: The country of origin of a pneumatic blow gun Dear Ms. Huang: In your letter dated October 1, 2026, you requested a country of origin ruling on a pneumatic blow gun. Descriptive literature was provided for our review. The item under consideration is described as a high-performance blow gun (item number 1111200214), which is an aluminum pneumatic hand tool featuring a 1/4" NPT female threaded inlet designed to connect to standard compressed air line couplers or hoses. The device utilizes a pistol-grip style, incorporating an ergonomically configured squeeze-trigger lever to manage compressed air flow. The blow gun functions mechanically by directing incoming compressed air into an inner valve mechanism controlled by the operator’s grip. Upon engagement, the air is accelerated toward the uniquely integrated “Ultimate Flow Tip”. This specialized, vented nozzle incorporates side intake ports utilizing the Venturi effect, which draws ambient room air into the primary stream, dramatically multiplying the total volume of compressed air output, achieving roughly 92 SCFM. The device is designed to clear dust, metal shavings, and debris from machinery, engines, workbenches, and industrial surfaces. The blow gun is made from components sourced from China and Malaysia. The Chinese components include the aluminum bar stock used to make the extended blow tube, plastic pellets used to make the soft grip, O-ring, springs, trigger, trigger fixing pin, rubber tip nozzle, metal pointed nozzle and thread adapter. The Malaysian components include the aluminum ingots to make the gun body and the brass bar stock to make the valve seat and valve core. All of the components are then sent to Malaysia where the aluminum ingots are melted and die-cast into semi-finished components. The components are then machined, including drilling and threading to form the finished gun body. Additionally, the valve seat, valve core, and extended blow tubes are CNC machined, drilled, grooved, deburred and inspected to form the finished components. Finally, the soft grips are made by injection molding the plastic pellets into the finished component. Once the metal and plastic components are made, they are then assembled with the remaining Chinese components to form the complete high-performance blow gun. When determining the country of origin for purposes of applying current trade remedies under Section 301 and additional duties, the substantial transformation analysis is applicable. See, e.g., Headquarters Ruling Letter H301619, dated November 6, 2018. The test for determining whether a substantial transformation will occur is whether an article emerges from a process with a new name, character, or use different from that possessed by the article prior to processing. See Texas Instruments Inc. v. United States, 681 F.2d 778 (C.C.P.A. 1982). This determination is based on the totality of the evidence. See National Hand Tool Corp. v. United States, 16 C.I.T. 308 (1992), aff’d, 989 F.2d 1201 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Additionally, Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), provides that unless excepted, every article of foreign origin imported into the United States shall be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the article (or its container) will permit, in such a manner as to indicate to the ultimate purchaser in the United States, the English name of the country of origin of the article. Congressional intent in enacting 19 U.S.C. 1304 was “that the ultimate purchaser should be able to know by an inspection of the marking on the imported goods the country of which the goods is the product. The evident purpose is to mark the goods so that at the time of purchase the ultimate purchaser may, by knowing where the goods were produced, be able to buy or refuse to buy them, if such marking should influence his will.” See United States v. Friedlaender & Co., 27 C.C.P.A. 297, 302 (1940). Part 134 of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Regulations (19 CFR 134) implements the country of origin marking requirements and exceptions of 19 U.S.C. 1304. Section 134.1(b), CBP Regulations (19 CFR 134.1(b)), defines “country of origin” as the country of manufacture, production, or growth of any article of foreign origin entering the United States. Further work or material added to an article in another country must effect a substantial transformation in order to render such other country the “country of origin” within the meaning of the marking laws and regulations. Based upon your description of the manufacturing operations, we note that a significant amount of the core components that comprise the blow gun are manufactured (injection molded, CNC machined and die-cast) in Malaysia. Additionally, these components, along with the Chinese O-ring, spring, trigger, fixing pin, and nozzles, emerge with a new name, character, and use, different from those possessed by the raw metal and plastic material. Thus, based on the totality of the circumstances, the country of origin of the high-performance blow gun (item number 1111200214) will be Malaysia. The holding set forth above applies only to the specific factual situation and merchandise description as identified in the ruling request. This position is clearly set forth in Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 177.9(b)(1). This section states that a ruling letter is issued on the assumption that all of the information furnished in the ruling letter, whether directly, by reference, or by implication, is accurate and complete in every material respect. In the event that the facts are modified in any way, or if the goods do not conform to these facts at time of importation, you should bring this to the attention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and submit a request for a new ruling in accordance with 19 CFR 177.2. Additionally, we note that the material facts described in the foregoing ruling may be subject to periodic verification by CBP. This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs and Border Protection Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, please contact National Import Specialist Jason Christie at jason.m.christie@cbp.dhs.gov. Sincerely, (for) James P. Forkan Director National Commodity Specialist Division