TheSnuggiehas been on the securities industry since 2008 — but until recently , nobody formally hump whether the fleece coverlet with arm was a cover or a clothing item . On February 10,Bloomberg BNA reports , the U.S. Court of International Trade settled the question once for all : The novelty item is , in fact , a cover .
This distinction may seem inconsequent to Snuggie owners , but it ’s important forAllstar Marketing , the group that sells them . As effectual website LawNewz explicate , blankets and wearable items are capable to different tariff . The U.S. Customs and Border Protection had antecedently placed the Snuggie in the " gown or priestly vestments ” category . These detail confront a 14.5 percent tariff , while blankets only face up an 8.5 percent duty . This categorization was n’t safe for Allstar Marketing ’s bottom transmission line , so they objected .
The determination ultimately came down to Judge Mark Allen Barnett of the United States Court of International Trade . Barnett ruled that the Snuggie should be labeled as a mantle for tariff purposes , dismissing the Justice Department ’s argument that the point was similar to astray - armed , loose garment like priestly vestment or scholastic robes . The Snuggie is dissimilar , Barnett countered , since it opens in the back and does n’t have closures .
Plus , Barnett pointed out , the Snuggie is marketed as a blanket . The particular ’s tagline is “ The Blanket With Sleeves ! ” and its publicity depict people donning the Snuggie “ in the type of billet one might habituate a blanket ; for case , while seated or reclining on a couch or bed , or outside pep up a sports team , ” Barnett wrote in his decision . Its arm simply permit the Snuggie " to stay in place and keep the user warm while allowing the user to engage in sure activities need the economic consumption of their hired hand . ”
Barnett ’s ruling means that importer get to compensate a lower significance tax when they transport Snuggies into the country — a fact that ’s sure to make Allstar Marketing administrator feel as warm and fuzzy as the product they trade .
