How can I obtain the Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule? The Explanatory Notes for the Harmonized Tariff Schedule are issued by the World Customs Organization Council. The Explanatory Notes are the official classification guidelines of the trade community, and are essential to the correct classification of goods.

Text covers the General Rules of Interpretation, Section Notes, Chapter and Subheading. The Explanatory Notes can be obtained from an authorized U.S. If you wish to receive automatic updates to this Q&A, select 'Subscribe to Updates' on the left side of this screen.

Your question/answer is not in this list? Then, continue searching with the 'Search' tool for this website. I want to know the tariff classification of a product in the Harmonized System As an intergovernmental organization, the WCO does not provide information about the tariff classification of goods to the private sector or to private persons, but only to WCO Member administrations. You are advised to contact the Customs administration of the importing country or exporting country for assistance. For e-mail addresses of officials responsible for Harmonized System matters in national administrations, which may advise you in matters related to HS classification, decisions taken by the HS Committee and policy matters. The, which is the valid version applied in international trade transactions, can be found on the WCO’s Nomenclature web page under Instruments and Tools. (see also ) 2.

The wording of the headings and any relative Section, Chapter or Subheading Notes, are decisive. Titles of Section or Chapters are for reference only and do not have legal status. The WCO has published Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System, which clarify the scope of the headings and subheadings. However, they.

I want to know the duty rate (customs duty) for a product The WCO does not provide information about duty rates, because customs duties are applied by WCO Members at national level. You are advised to contact the Customs administration of the country concerned, or to consult one of the following web sites which provide public access to tariff rates of participating administrations (some data providers charge a fee for the information): (created by the International Trade Centre – UNCTAD/WTO) (produced by UNCTAD) (produced by the International Customs Tariff Bureau) (the European Union's Market Access Database), or search on the WCO web page for. The WTO also has a number of publicly available databases, publications, and analytical tools on customs duty rates that can all be accessed through The Internet addresses of electronic Customs tariffs are listed in Annex II to the document regarding the position of the Contracting Parties to the HS and non-Contracting Party Administrations, which can be found on the Nomenclature web page under. For e-mail addresses of officials responsible for Harmonized System matters in national administrations, which may advise you in matters related to HS classification, decisions taken by the HS Committee and policy matters. I want copies of documents or reports of the Harmonized System Committee The WCO Secretariat does not provide copies of working documents and reports, because they contain some business confidential information. To assist public research, the WCO maintains a ('Historical Documents').

This database contains Harmonized System Committee documents and reports (without disclosing the business confidential information or classification questions currently under consideration). Unfortunately, we have a back-log with regard to the publication of documents published prior to the 12th session of the HSC; we are working to remedy this situation as soon as possible. For information on specific topics, you are advised to contact your national Customs administration. For e-mail addresses of officials responsible for Harmonized System matters in national administrations, which may advise you in matters related to HS classification, decisions taken by the HS Committee and policy matters. I want information on the Harmonized System Nomenclature 2017 Edition At present, the Harmonized System Nomenclature 2017 Edition is the valid version applied in international trade transactions.

Paul Ekman Torrent Pdf Editor on this page. For the HS Nomenclature 2017 Edition. For information about the HS 2017 amendments the consequential amendments and for the HS Correlation Tables correlating the 2012 and 2017 editions of the Harmonized System (HS).

For additional information about the amendments or the Correlation Tables, you are advised to contact your national Customs administration. For e-mail addresses of officials responsible for Harmonized System matters in national administrations. For on the Harmonized System Nomenclature 2017 Edition, please visit the. I want information on decisions taken by the Harmonized System Committee Since February 1999, all decisions taken by the Harmonized System Committee (HSC) on the classification of specific products as well as the amendment of the HS Explanatory Notes and the Compendium of Classification Opinions are published on the Nomenclature web page under Committees, for information classification decisions taken by the Harmonized System Committee.

These decisions are updated twice a year after each session of the Harmonized System Committee. Furthermore, the WCO maintains a ('Historical Documents'). This database contains Harmonized System Committee documents and reports (without disclosing the business confidential information or classification questions currently under consideration).

Unfortunately, we have a back-log with regard to the publication of documents published prior to the 12th session of the HSC; we are working to remedy this situation as soon as possible. Can I submit a classification issue to the Harmonized System Committee? Because the WCO is an intergovernmental organization, such questions should be brought to the attention of the national Customs administration concerned or another intergovernmental organization, which might then ask the WCO Secretariat to place the issue on the agenda of the Harmonized System Committee. Can the decision-making process of the Harmonized System Committee be speeded up? An excellent question and one with which the Harmonized System Committee (HSC) has been grappling. The HSC has taken steps to expedite the procedure for re-examination of questions which should result in a quicker reconsideration of decisions which one or more countries cannot accept.

The best way to ensure a quick response by the HSC is for Customs administrations to submit questions on a timely basis with all of the information necessary for a considered decision. Economically important questions such as those usually considered by the HSC require time for trade consultations. It is therefore imperative that sufficient time be given to administrations for that purpose. For an information sheet explaining the procedure for examination (or re-examination) of questions by the HSC.

Can I get access to the Members Area of the WCO Web Site? Access to the restricted Members Area of the WCO Web Site is reserved to the Customs authorities of the WCO Member Administrations. Can you give me some guidance on the structure and the length of the HS code? For general information on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System. The Harmonized System is governed by 'The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System'. The official interpretation of the Harmonized System (HS) is given in the Explanatory Notes (5 volumes in English and French) published by the WCO.

The Explanatory Notes are also available and on CD-ROM, as part of a commodity database giving the HS classification of more than 200,000 commodities actually traded internationally. You can purchase Harmonized System at the. The Harmonized System provides a logical structure within which over 1,200 headings are grouped in 96 Chapters, the latter being themselves arranged in 21 Sections. Each heading is identified by a four-digit code, the first two digits of which indicate the Chapter wherein the heading appears, while the latter two indicate the position of the heading in the Chapter. Thus, heading 10.01 ('wheat and meslin') is the first heading of Chapter 10, which, in its entirety, covers 'cereals'. In addition, most of the headings are subdivided into two or more 1-dash subheadings which, where necessary, are further subdivided into two or more 2-dash subheadings and which are identified by a 6-digit code (HS code).

The HS comprises over 5,000 separate groups of goods identified by a 6-digit code, the first four digits thereof correspond to the relevant heading number, while the fifth and sixth digits identify the one- and two-dash subheadings respectively. The absence of such subheadings is indicated by a zero. For example: 1. HS code 0205.00 means: the fifth heading of Chapter 2, which has not been subdivided; 2. HS code 0103.10 means: the third heading of Chapter 1, first subheading which has not been further subdivided; 3. HS code 0303.11 means: the third heading of Chapter 3, first two-dash subheading of the first one-dash subheading.

For an information sheet explaining that the Harmonized System has evolved into a multi purpose tool,. At present, the Edition is the valid version applied in international trade transactions. Can I make suggestions for the amendment of the Harmonized System? Because the WCO is an intergovernmental organization, suggestions for amendment of the HS should be brought to the attention of the national Customs administration concerned or another intergovernmental organization which might then ask the WCO Secretariat to place the issue on the agenda of the Harmonized System Committee. For an information sheet explaining the Harmonized System review process.

Why is the Harmonized System not amended more often to meet the needs of the trade? The Harmonized System is only amended every 5 years.

There are several reasons and, frankly, competing interests. The drafting of amendments usually takes several years of deliberation by the Committees concerned and consultations with the trade. Thereafter, the HSC and the Secretariat need several years for revision of the HS publications, whereas Member administrations need time for translation of amendments into languages other than French and English, national legislative procedures, WTO negotiations, etc. For an information sheet explaining the Harmonized System review process. Are HS codes always numbered consecutively? In principle, headings and subheadings are numbered in a consecutive way.

This principle is, however, interrupted as from 1996 some HS code numbers disappeared as the result of the HS subheadings having been renumbered when their content was changed. Can representatives of the private sector participate in meetings of the Harmonized System Committee? The basic answer is no. But the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) participates as an industry representative and observer in meetings of the Harmonized System Committee. The WCO would also be pleased to welcome representatives of other international organizations as observers.

However, the WCO can not invite representatives of individual companies or regional organizations to meetings of the Harmonized System Committee. Where can I find? Harmonized System Convention Find the text of the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System Harmonized System Nomenclature 2017 Edition The, which is the valid version presently applied in international trade transactions, can be found on the web page under Instruments and Tools. Countries, territories or Customs or economic unions applying the Harmonized System The list of countries, territories or Customs or economic unions applying the Harmonized System can be found on the web page under. Contact addresses of officials responsible for HS matters in national administrations For e-mail addresses of officials responsible for Harmonized System matters in national administrations, which may advise you in matters related to HS classification, decisions taken by the HS Committee and policy matters,.

Electronic Customs tariffs The Internet addresses of electronic Customs tariffs are listed in Annex II to the document regarding the position of the Contracting Parties to the HS and non-Contracting Party Administrations, which can be found on the Nomenclature web page under. Copies of HSC documents and reports To assist public research, the WCO maintains a historical documentation database ('). This database contains Harmonized System Committee documents and reports (without disclosing the business confidential information or classification questions currently under consideration). Unfortunately, we have a back-log with regard to the publication of documents published prior to the 12th session of the HSC; we are working to remedy this situation as soon as possible.

HS 2017 amendments for information about the HS 2017 amendments, complementary amendments and corrigendum amendments and the HS Correlation Tables correlating the 2012 and 2017 editions of the Harmonized System (HS). Correlation Tables correlating the 2012 and 2017 editions of the Harmonized System (HS).

Correlating the 2007 and 2012 editions of the Harmonized System (HS). Correlating the 2002 and 2007 editions of the Harmonized System (HS). Correlating the 1996 and 2002 editions of the Harmonized System (HS).

WCO Recommendations related to the Harmonized System Convention The Recommendations concerning the application of the Harmonized System Convention concern: a. The introduction, at national level, of additional subheadings in WCO Member (or Customs) administrations’ statistical nomenclatures to control or to monitor international trade in certain commodities; b. The facilitation of the collection, comparison and analysis of international statistics; c. The promotion of objective, predictable and transparent classification practices. For an overview of the WCO Council Recommendations related to the HS,. How can I purchase WCO publications on the Harmonized System?

You can purchase Harmonized System publications at the, such as: • Harmonized System Nomenclature (Legal text) This publication contains the following: (a) The text of the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System; (b) The text of the Nomenclature established under the above Convention. The Nomenclature includes the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System, the Section, Chapter and Subheading Notes, and the headings and subheadings. • Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System As commentaries finalized by the Harmonized System Committee and adopted by the WCO Council, the Explanatory Notes constitute the official interpretation of the HS at international level. The Explanatory Notes are also available on and on CD-ROM, as part of a database which groups all the available HS Tools, by adding to the information on the Nomenclature, the Compendium of Classification Opinions and the Explanatory Notes, that relating to the Alphabetical Index and the Brochure on Classification Decisions taken by the Harmonized System Committee. • Compendium of Classification Opinions The Compendium of Classification Opinions contains a list of some of the more important and/or difficult classification decisions taken by the Harmonized System Committee and adopted by the WCO Council. • Alphabetical Index to the Harmonized System This Index is an alphabetical list of the articles and products mentioned in the HS and its Explanatory Notes.

This revision of the 2017 Harmonized Tariff Schedule takes effect July 1, 2017. This page consists of the most recent online version of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. It provides an updated version of the last printed publication and contains all of the cumulative changes made since January 2017. For most chapters, the links provided will be either to the basic annual edition except for the chapters revised to take effect on July 1, 2017. The USITC (Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements) is responsible for publishing the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSA). The HTSA provides the applicable tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the United States; it is based on the international Harmonized System, the global system of nomenclature that is used to describe most world trade in goods.

Although the USITC publishes and maintains the HTSA in its various forms, Customs and Border Protection is the only agency that can provide legally binding advice or rulings on classification of imports. Contact your nearest Customs office with questions about how potential imports should be classified. For a binding ruling on classification, contact the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule is available from the Government Publishing Office in hardcopy form. If you would like to order a subscription to the latest printed edition, the 2017 HTS can be ordered from.