<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Hi Michael, <div><br></div><div>I totally agree with Lynn. Talk to vendors and sales before the purchase. Vendors know the system HTS code and whether the code is on the HTS exempt list. Semiconductor instruments should be all exempted. </div><div><br></div><div>If the instrument is not exempted by HTS code, you’d better go through university purchase office to apply for the waiver as academic research equipment. If Tulane has hired someone to deal with all Tariff issues, she/he should be the expert to do the process. We had several waive applications last year. </div><div><br></div><div>But it is still much easier to work with vendors to go through all Tariff processes.</div><div><br></div><div>Feel free to let me know if you have any questions about the waive application.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div>Jing </div><div> <br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div>
<meta charset="UTF-8"><div>---------------------------------------<br>Jing Guo Ph.D.<br>Cleanroom Manager/Research Scientist<br>SEA Cleanroom (SST 017)<br>Rice University<br>Houston, TX <br>jeanne.guo@rice.edu<br>713-348-8227</div>
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<div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div>On Jan 31, 2026, at 2:39 PM, Lynn Charles Rathbun <lcr2@cornell.edu> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">The first step is to determine if it is actually subject to Tariff. That depends on the HTS code. The vendor can supply the recommended HTS code but that is subject to change. There is at least one recent public ruling of a FIB imported under HTS 8486.20<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.customsmobile.com/rulings/docview?doc_id=NY%20N347911&highlight=focused%20ion%20beam" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">https://www.customsmobile.com/rulings/docview?doc_id=NY%20N347911&highlight=focused%20ion%20beam</a> which is semiconductor production related equipment which is de facto duty free. You can search for prior rulings as well. In an older case, a FIB was ruled to be HTS 9031.80.4000 which IS subject to tariff. A ruling in 2025 on an advanced SEM<a href="https://www.customsmobile.com/rulings/docview?doc_id=NY%20N347907&highlight=scanning%20electron%20microscope" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">https://www.customsmobile.com/rulings/docview?doc_id=NY%20N347907&highlight=scanning%20electron%20microscope</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pivoted on whether or not it had accessories for handling wafers. So it is complicated.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">If it is not duty free by HTS classification, then the process is to apply for a WAIVER from the department of Commerce (not CPB) as academic research equipment, under the Florence convention, for equipment that has no US manufactured alternative. The downside to that is that you have to certify that there will be NO COMMERCIAL USE for 5 years. I have never had to or been willing to make that commitment. If you do go that route, it requires considerable time and extensive documentation.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">I would expect that the vendor can supply anecdotal experience/references.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">And that is what Customs Brokers are for.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Good Luck<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div><div><div><div style="border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: currentcolor currentcolor windowtext; border-image: none; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Lynn Rathbun, Ph.D.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Laboratory Manager<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Cornell Nanoscale Facility—Cornell University<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:LCR2@cornell.edu" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">LCR2@cornell.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">607-254-4872 (please do not leave voicemails)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">607-342-1880<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cnf.cornell.edu/" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">www.cnf.cornell.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/0d3acd44d54d4f2a9ba5eb614861d785@cornell.edu?anonymous&ep=bwmEmailSignature" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="20" height="20" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://res.public.onecdn.static.microsoft/assets/bookwithme/misc/CalendarPerson20px.png" style="width: 0.2083in; height: 0.2083in;"></span></a><o:p></o:p></div></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/0d3acd44d54d4f2a9ba5eb614861d785@cornell.edu?anonymous&ep=bwmEmailSignature" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 120, 212); text-decoration: none;">Book time to meet with me</span></a><o:p></o:p></div></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces@mtl.mit.edu><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Johnson, Michael W<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Friday, January 30, 2026 7:32 PM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Network Fab <labnetwork@mtl.mit.edu><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[labnetwork] Tariff exemption<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Does anybody have experience, positive or negative, with applying for tariff exemption for new or used equipment purchases from countries with significant tariffs assessed upon import into the US?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Our specific situation is we have a new FIB coming in from the EU. We are applying for tariff exemption and we are wondering what the likelihood of success is?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">To my knowledge, there are no FIB’s manufactured in the US. That’s part of our hope for reprieve on this.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">-Michael.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Tulane TINI<o:p></o:p></div></div></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">_______________________________________________</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">labnetwork mailing list</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">labnetwork@mtl.mit.edu</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">https://mtl.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo.cgi/labnetwork</span></div></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>