HTS Tariff Codes

HTS Tariff Codes

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifies all goods imported into the US. Every import requires an HTS code to determine duty rates.

Workflows

Find the duty on a product:

1. Search by keyword (e.g., "lithium battery")
2. Look at results with the highest indent — those are the most specific classifications with actual rates
3. Read general_duty for the MFN rate and special_duty for FTA/GSP preferential rates
4. If surcharge_refs is present, look up each code (e.g., "9903.88.15") to see the additional duty text

Total landed duty for goods from China:

1. Search by keyword → find the specific entry → note general_duty (base rate)
2. Look at surcharge_refs — these are 9903.xx codes referenced in footnotes
3. Look up each surcharge code → read its description for the additional duty (e.g., "plus 25%")
4. Total duty = base general_duty + all applicable surcharges

Compare sourcing countries:

1. Look up the product's HTS code
2. general_duty = MFN rate (most countries including China, before surcharges)
3. special_duty = preferential rates with country codes: AU (Australia), KR (Korea), CA/MX (USMCA), IL (Israel), etc.
4. column2_duty = rate for non-NTR countries (Cuba, North Korea — rarely relevant)
5. For China: also add any surcharges from surcharge_refs

Verify a classification:

1. Look up the suspected HTS code
2. Read hierarchy_path to see the parent chain
3. Read descriptions at each indent level to confirm the product fits
4. The entry with statistical_suffix (10-digit) is the most specific

Worked Example

Searching "lithium battery" and looking up code 8507.60 returns:

Reading this:

• Base duty from most countries: 3.4% of customs value
• Free under GSP (A), Australia FTA (AU), Korea FTA (KR), USMCA (C/S), and many other FTAs
• Column 2 (Cuba/North Korea): 40%
• Two surcharge references → look these up to see additional duties

Looking up surcharge code "9903.88.15" returns:

So for lithium-ion batteries from China: 3.4% base + 7.5% Section 301 surcharge = 10.9% total duty. From Korea (KR in special_duty): Free. From most other countries: 3.4%.

Output Fields

• htsno — HTS number (4, 6, 8, or 10 digits with dots)
• description — Legal product description at this level
• indent — Hierarchy depth: 0 (heading) → 1 (subheading) → 2+ (tariff/statistical line). Duty rates are on the deepest entries.
• statistical_suffix — 2-digit suffix (present on 10-digit entries)
• general_duty — MFN rate: "Free", "3.4%", "32.8¢/kg", or compound "6.5% + 15¢/kg"
• special_duty — Preferential rates with program codes: "Free (A,AU,KR,IL)"
• column2_duty — Non-NTR rate (rarely relevant)
• units — Unit of quantity: kg, No., l, m², t
• footnotes — Regulatory notes with column references
• surcharge_refs — List of 9903.xx codes from footnotes. Look these up to see additional duty text.
• hierarchy_path — Parent classification chain (lookup tool only): "Batteries > Lithium-ion"

Trade Program Codes (in special_duty)

• A / A+ — GSP (developing countries)
• AU — Australia FTA
• BH — Bahrain FTA
• CA — USMCA (Canada)
• CL — Chile FTA
• CO — Colombia TPA
• D — AGOA (Africa)
• E — CBERA (Caribbean)
• IL — US-Israel FTA
• JO — Jordan FTA
• KR — Korea FTA (KORUS)
• MA — Morocco FTA
• MX — USMCA (Mexico)
• OM — Oman FTA
• P — CAFTA-DR
• PA — Panama TPA
• PE — Peru TPA
• S — USMCA special rate
• SG — Singapore FTA

Gotchas

• Entries at low indent (0-1) often have no duty rates — drill to higher-indent children for actual rates.
• surcharge_refs are additional duties ON TOP of the base rate — always look them up.
• The search is keyword-based. Looking up "0901.21" works but searches for that text pattern, not a structured code tree.