General Rules of Interpretation (GRI)
The six legal rules customs officers must apply, in order, when classifying a product under the Harmonized System. GRI 1 covers most cases; GRI 2-6 resolve edge cases.
The General Rules of Interpretation are the six legally binding rules that classify every product into the Harmonized System. They must be applied in order: GRI 1 first, GRI 2 only if GRI 1 did not decide, and so on.
Most products are classified under GRI 1 alone — the wording of the heading makes the answer clear. GRI 3 is the most frequently cited rule for composite and mixed goods — it asks which component gives the product its essential character.
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