Read Product -> Suggest Code -> Screen Dual-Use -> Flag License -> Route to Compliance

Tariff-Code Pre-Classifier and Dual-Use Screener

The agent suggests a tariff and export control code for each product from its chemistry and composition, with a plain rationale, and reuses prior decisions so the same product is not re-classified every shipment. It also flags dual-use or controlled-substance status for the destination country. A trade compliance person confirms the code before it is used.

The Problem

The same product got three different tariff codes in one quarter.

Every export needs a tariff code, and three different people classify the same product three different ways under deadline. One shipment gets held at customs for a wrong code, another slips through with a precursor that needed a dual-use check nobody ran. The right answer was decided last year, but that decision lives in one person's email.

What Changes

Classify once, reuse the decision, and screen for dual-use every time.

The agent reads the product master and composition, suggests a tariff and control code with the reasoning, and reuses the last confirmed decision for that product. It screens the composition and destination against the controlled and dual-use lists and flags anything that needs a license. The trade compliance person confirms, and the confirmed code is reused next time.

Humans stay in control: the agent suggests the code and flags controlled status, and your trade compliance person confirms the classification and decides on any license.

HOW THE AGENT WORKS

TRIGGERLLMAPIDECISIONACTIONWAIT

TRIGGERNew product or shipmentFires when a product needs classifying or a shipment is being prepared.

APIPull product and compositionReads the product master, composition, and any past classification.

APILoad tariff and control listsReads the tariff schedule and the controlled and dual-use lists for the destination.

LLMSuggest code and rationaleSuggests a tariff and control code from the chemistry and reuses a prior decision if present.

DECISIONControlled or dual-use?

LLMDraft the classification noteWrites the suggested code, the rationale, and any dual-use or license flag.

ACTIONRoute to trade complianceSends the suggestion and flags to trade compliance to confirm.

The agent does not file a customs entry or grant a license. Your trade compliance person does. The agent removes the re-classification from scratch and the missed dual-use check.

HOW TO BUILD IT

Three levels of depth. Pick the one that matches where you are.

For the ops person who needs to understand what's involved and brief their team.

Product and Control ListsComposition plus tariff and dual-use lists

The AgentWorkflow engine + LLM

Trade ComplianceConfirms the code and license need

WHAT YOUR TEAM PROVIDES ONCE

Product master - the product and its composition
Past classifications - confirmed codes to reuse per product
Tariff schedule - the code list to classify against
Controlled and dual-use lists - restricted substances by destination
Classification note - the suggested code, rationale, and license flag

What happens day-to-day: a product needs a code for an export. The agent suggests one from the chemistry, reuses the last confirmed decision if there is one, screens for dual-use against the destination, and sends trade compliance a note to confirm. The confirmed code is stored and reused next time.

For the IT person or technical lead who needs to scope the integration.

INQUIRY SOURCES

Product master and composition from the ERP

Past shipment classifications

Tariff schedule and controlled and dual-use reference lists

WORKFLOW ENGINE (N8N)

New product or shipment

Pull product and composition

Load tariff and control lists

Suggest code and reuse prior decision

Controlled or dual-use

Draft the classification note

Route to trade compliance

CONNECTS TO

ERP product master (SAP / Oracle / Tally)Read: product, composition. Write: none

Classification memory (spreadsheet / trade tool)Read: past confirmed codes. Write: confirmed code after sign-off

Tariff and control references (tariff schedule / control lists)Read: codes, controlled and dual-use lists. Write: none

Notification channel (Email / Teams / Slack)Read: none. Write: classification note and flags

WITHOUT PMS API

Without live access the user provides the product composition and the reference lists as files. The agent still suggests and screens, with confirmed codes kept in a shared sheet by hand.

WITH PMS API

With access to the product master and a maintained reference set, the agent suggests and screens the moment a product is set up or a shipment starts, and reuses confirmed decisions automatically. Best experience.

For the person who wants to build this agent step by step. Each node below maps to an n8n workflow node.

TRIGGERNode 1

Trigger - product needs a code

Fire on product setup or a shipment being prepared, carrying the product reference.

Output: { product_id, destination_country }

APINode 2

API - pull product and prior code

Read the product master and composition and any past confirmed classification.

Output: { product_id, composition[], prior_code }

LLMNode 3

LLM - suggest code and screen dual-use

LLM node that suggests a tariff and control code from the chemistry and screens for dual-use against the destination.

Output: { suggested_code, rationale, reused_prior, dual_use_flag, license_needed }

You are a trade classification assistant. Suggest a tariff and export control code for the product from its composition, with a short rationale. If a prior confirmed code exists, reuse it and say so. Screen the composition against the controlled and dual-use lists for the destination and flag whether a license may be needed. Do not file anything. Product: {product}. Prior code: {prior_code}. Control lists: {control_lists}. Destination: {destination}. Respond ONLY with valid JSON. No explanation.

INPUT

{"product":{"name":"Acetic Anhydride 99%","composition":[{"cas":"108-24-7","pct":99}]},"prior_code":null,"control_lists":{"precursors":["108-24-7"]},"destination":"country X"}

OUTPUT

{"suggested_code":"2915.24","rationale":"Acetic anhydride is classified under heading 2915.24 as a carboxylic acid anhydride","reused_prior":false,"dual_use_flag":true,"license_needed":"Acetic anhydride is a listed precursor, confirm whether an export authorisation is required for country X"}

DECISIONNode 4

Decision - controlled or dual-use?

If a control or dual-use flag is set, mark the item for a mandatory compliance check.

Output: { needs_compliance_check: boolean }

ACTIONNode 5

Action - route to trade compliance

Send the suggested code, rationale, and flags to trade compliance to confirm and store.

Output: A classification note delivered for confirmation

MVP vs Advanced — Where To Start

MVP — START HERE

Start with your top export products
Load the tariff headings you use most
Suggest a code with a plain rationale
Screen composition against a precursor list
Send the note to trade compliance
Store the confirmed code for reuse

ADVANCED — ADD LATER

=+ Reuse prior confirmed codes automatically
=+ Pull composition live from the product master
=+ Screen dual-use per destination country
=+ Keep an audit trail of each classification
=+ Alert when a control list changes for a stored product
=+ Flag when composition changes may change the code

Full Video Walkthrough Coming Soon

Watch the agent suggest a tariff code with its rationale and flag a precursor for a dual-use check.

Everything on this page is free to learn.

When you're ready to build — do it yourself or bring us in.

Book a call to scope this

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Frequently asked questions

Tariff-Code Pre-Classifier and Dual-Use Screener is an AI agent that suggests the tariff code from the chemistry and flags dual-use per destination.

The same product got three different tariff codes in one quarter. The Tariff-Code Pre-Classifier and Dual-Use Screener addresses this: suggests the tariff code from the chemistry and flags dual-use per destination.

No. Your team stays in control. The agent does not file a customs entry or grant a license. Your trade compliance person does. The agent removes the re-classification from scratch and the missed dual-use check.

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