Most classification errors do not occur because teams lack skill. They occur because teams outside the compliance function do not understand how their information impacts GRI based decisions. Engineering, procurement, logistics, product management, and quality teams all contribute data that feeds HTS classification. When these teams lack a basic understanding of GRI, even the best compliance processes become harder to execute.

Training internal teams to understand GRI does not require them to become tariff experts. It requires giving them the right level of context so they can provide accurate product data, avoid assumptions, and support a structured classification workflow.

Why Non Experts Need a Working Understanding of GRI

Teams across the company influence classification through:

• Product descriptions
• Technical specifications
• Bills of Materials
• Packaging information
• Engineering drawings
• Purchasing terminology
• Vendor documentation

If these inputs are incomplete or inconsistent, GRI cannot be applied correctly. When teams understand what information is needed and why GRI relies on it, data quality improves and classification risk decreases.

Training Objective 1: Explain the Purpose of GRI in Simple Terms

Teams do not need to memorize the six rules. They only need to understand the core idea:

GRI is a step by step legal decision process that determines how goods are classified under the HTS.

Materials should focus on:

• Why classification starts with legal text
• Why missing or vague product data causes misclassification
• How composite goods, incomplete goods, and sets affect classification
• Why correct subheading selection depends on technical distinctions

This gives teams a clear sense of how their information supports the process.

Training Objective 2: Teach What Information Matters Most

Non experts should be trained on the minimum product facts required for accurate classification. These include:

• What the product is
• What it does
• What it is made of
• Whether it is complete or incomplete
• Whether it is part of a set
• Whether it arrives with specialized packaging
• Any technical attributes affecting subheadings

Providing templates or standardized fields helps teams supply this information consistently.

Training Objective 3: Show Examples of Classification Problems Caused by Bad Data

Concrete examples make the process real. Use simple scenarios showing how incomplete data leads to:

• Incorrect headings under GRI 1
• Misapplied essential character under GRI 3
• Wrong subheading under GRI 6
• Incorrect tariff shift evaluation for FTAs

Teams quickly understand why accuracy matters when they see the downstream effects.

Training Objective 4: Emphasize Roles, Not Expertise

The goal is not to make engineers or buyers into classifiers. The goal is to help them provide the information that compliance needs. Clear role definitions help:

• Engineers provide functional and technical specs
• Procurement teams ensure supplier descriptions are complete
• Logistics teams confirm packing and set configurations
• Compliance teams apply GRI using legally grounded rules

When roles are defined, teams understand their responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed.

Training Objective 5: Create Simple Checklists and Internal Guides

Providing quick reference materials helps teams remember what matters. Useful tools include:

• Product description checklists
• BOM data quality guidelines
• Set and kit identification guides
• Incomplete goods guidance
• Packaging and case distinctions
• Subheading relevant technical attribute lists

Short, visual, and role specific documents work best.

Training Objective 6: Use Real World Walkthroughs

Short workshops can walk teams through:

• A basic classification using GRI 1
• A composite good using GRI 3
• A machinery product requiring GRI 6 distinctions
• A set or kit where essential character matters
• A BOM driven FTA example showing why accurate classification is essential

Hands on examples create understanding faster than lengthy presentations.

Training Objective 7: Reinforce That Classification Is a Legal Process

Teams should understand that classification:

• Is based on legal text, not interpretation
• Must follow a fixed sequence of rules
• Requires precise product information
• Must be documented for audits

This message encourages careful data handling and better cross team collaboration.

The Bottom Line

Training internal teams on GRI does not require technical expertise. It requires clarity about what information matters, why it matters, and how it supports a structured classification workflow. When teams understand their role in providing accurate product data, compliance becomes stronger, classification becomes more consistent, and the organization becomes better prepared for audits and FTA qualification.

Start a structured classification workflow in Trade Insight AI to see how product data quality influences the application of GRI across your catalog.