Photo of Maria Vanikiotis

Maria Vanikiotis is a counsel in the International Trade Group of Crowell & Moring and resident in the firm's New York office.

Maria has experience in a variety of matters related to the movement of goods across international borders, including problem-solving for importers facing Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs, classification of merchandise under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, first sale appraisement programs, free trade agreement origin verifications, country of origin analyses, and other regulatory issues.

Before joining Crowell & Moring, Maria worked for a boutique law firm in New York focusing on customs law and, while in law school, Maria was employed as a summer associate in the Brussels office of a large international law firm on matters related to antitrust and competition law within the European Union. As a law student, Maria published a note comparing collective action approaches to antitrust cases in the U.S., U.K., and E.U., for which she won an award for outstanding legal writing. In addition, Maria was an active and accomplished member of both the Fordham International Law Journal and the Dispute Resolution Society.

Main Idea: The regulations used to determine the country of origin of textile and apparel products require the sequential application of rules much like the General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs) in the HTSUS

In ruling N326416 (Feb. 2, 2023), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determined the country of origin of a prepared painting canvas.

Main Idea: Simple assembly operations will not substantially transform components that give shape and form (i.e., character) to the finished article and define its use.

In ruling N329853 (Jan. 12, 2023), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) considers the country of origin of the Sapper XYZ Arm Assembly (the Sapper).  This product is a monitor mount…

Main Idea: CBP has long history of limiting classification of items as furniture in chapter 94, HTSUS, to articles used by humans.

A variety of factors impact a product’s classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).  However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has long demonstrated that the most important…

Main Idea:  Automatic data processing (ADP) system units of heading 8471 must satisfy three criteria: sole or principal use in an ADP system, connectable to processing units, and capable of accepting or delivering data within the system.

In ruling NY N328964 (Nov. 10, 2022), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discusses the tariff classification of the…

Main Idea:  A strong command of the HTSUS and how your facts may apply can open up significant and surprising opportunities for duty-savings for importers.

In ruling HQ H327171 (Nov. 22, 2022), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discusses the tariff classification of certain items (including jackets, hats, sports bags, globes, and blankets) imported for…

Main Idea: Where goods are demonstrably for the use or benefit of handicapped persons, relief from general and additional duties is possible.

In ruling N328828 (Nov. 10, 2022), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discussed the tariff classification of a Stainless Steel Grab Bar from China and its eligibility for duty-free treatment under the Nairobi…

On Tuesday (Nov. 1, 2022), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) released a preview of its questionnaire seeking comments on the effectiveness and impacts of the additional duties levied on Chinese-origin goods enacted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (“Section 301 tariffs”).  The Section 301 tariffs, which commenced in…

Main Idea: Chapter 98 classifications can be a significant opportunity for duty-savings, but require robust tracing and recordkeeping processes from importers.

In ruling H323401, (Sept. 29, 2022) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) considers the applicability of secondary subheading 9801.00.10, HTSUS for certain retail bags of frozen fruit (e.g., strawberries or fruit medleys).   …