Valuation · CBLE study guide
Transaction value: price & exclusions
Price actually paid, exclusions, freight, related parties, valuation hierarchy, other methods.
- 58past questions in CBLE Pass
- ≈4questions on a typical 80-question exam
- 19 CFR 152.101-152.108where the rules live
Common traps
Wrong answers on past exams cluster around a few beliefs. Here is each one, and what the rule actually says.
Freight in transaction value
“International shipping paid by the buyer is added.”
The rule: International freight, insurance and related charges are excluded from transaction value.
Remember: Freight out.
19 CFR 152.103(a)(5) · 19 CFR 152.102(f)
Indirect payments to seller
“Only the invoiced cash price counts.”
The rule: The price actually paid or payable includes indirect payments such as settling a debt the seller owes the buyer; international freight and insurance are excluded.
Remember: Add debt offsets; remove freight.
19 CFR 152.103(a) · 19 CFR 152.102(f)
Prohibited appraisement bases
“Home-market price is acceptable.”
The rule: CBP may not appraise on the price in the domestic market of the country of exportation, the higher of two values, U.S. selling price of U.S. goods, arbitrary or minimum values, and other bases in 152.108.
Remember: Know the forbidden list.
19 CFR 152.108
Computed value elements
“U.S. selling price, foreign home-market price, or remitted taxes are elements.”
The rule: Computed value = materials and processing, profit and general expenses, assists not already included, and packing costs. Internal taxes remitted on export are excluded.
Remember: Cost + profit/GE + assists + packing.
19 CFR 152.106(a)
Valuation hierarchy
“Prohibited bases can be used when TV of similar goods fails.”
The rule: Order: transaction value; TV of identical; TV of similar; deductive value; computed value (deductive/computed order may be reversed at importer's request); then a derived method. Foreign-market, third-country and minimum values are prohibited.
Remember: Next stop after similar: deductive value.
19 CFR 152.101(b) · 19 CFR 152.108
Transaction value requires a sale
“Consignment imports or gifts have a transaction value.”
The rule: TV requires a sale for exportation to the U.S. Consignments, imports before a sale, and free goods have no TV; related-party sales qualify if the relationship doesn't influence the price.
Remember: No sale, no TV.
19 CFR 152.103 · 19 CFR 152.103(j)(2)
Try a past question
October 2026 CBLE, question 80
If the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) is 0.3464%, what is the MPF for the shipment described below if the MPF is higher than the minimum and lower than the maximum for the applicable fiscal year? A shipment of lighting parts from Italy is classified under 9405.99.4090, HTSUS, dutiable at 6%, and subject to antidumping duties of 13.19%. The buyer pays a total of $89,000.00 for the goods, which includes $4,500.00 ocean freight, $1,000.00 insurance, $250.00 for customs brokerage fees, $15,000.00 CBP duties and fees, MPF paid, and is delivered duty paid (DDP) to Los Angeles. The buyer pays an additional $500.00 for rail freight from Los Angeles to Kentucky.
Show the answer and why
A. Correct. Remove freight ($4,500), insurance ($1,000) and brokerage ($250): $83,250 = V × (1 + 6% + 13.19% + 0.3464%), so V ≈ $69,644 and MPF = 0.3464% × V ≈ $241.25. U.S. rail freight is excluded.
B. Incorrect. Uses a value that still includes non-dutiable freight, insurance or brokerage; back them out first.
C. Incorrect. Uses a value that still includes non-dutiable charges; back them out and the duties first.
D. Incorrect. $425 isn't supported by 0.3464% of the correctly backed-out value.
19 CFR 152.102(f) · 19 CFR 24.23(b)(1) · law as of 2026-11-09
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