The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) is compiled and published by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), with regulatory interpretation and enforcement delegated to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It is important to note that trade control measures administered by executive agencies—including embargoes, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and other specific trade remedies—constitute a separate regulatory framework and are not integrated into the HTSUS. However, tariffs specifically imposed on Chinese products under Section 301 can be referenced within the HTSUS.
Executive Order “Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment” of April 9, 2025, increases the rate of additional duties for the People’s Republic of China from 84% to 125% and suspends the country-specific rates of duty, except for 9903.01.63, until July 9, 2025. Learn more
Importers are legally obligated to classify goods under the correct HTSUS provisions prior to entry into the United States. This classification process requires adherence to a three-tiered analytical framework:
Application of the General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs);
Consideration of statutory annotations at the section, chapter, and subheading levels;
Integration of the Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System.
The HTSUS adopts a hierarchical classification structure, extending from the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS). Key structural elements include:
4-digit and 6-digit codes aligning with HS international standards;
8-digit codes designating unique U.S. tariff lines;
10-digit codes for non-legal statistical reporting.
Classification under this system follows a tiered analytical approach: practitioners must first identify the most specific 4-digit provision applicable to the goods, then progressively apply subcategory rules while incorporating supplemental interpretive regulations established by the United States.
What Are the Key Considerations for Air Freight Cargo?May 30, 2025With the increasing frequency of global trade, air freight cargo has become one of the preferred methods for cross-border logistics due to its speed, efficiency, and safety. However, the air freight p...view
Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU)July 2, 2025A Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) is a standardized measurement used in the shipping and logistics industry to describe the capacity of container ships and terminals. One TEU represents the space ta...view
Panama Canal Announces Shipping Restrictions! How Big Is the Impact on International Trade?June 13, 2023It is reported that as an important waterway of global trade, the severe drought is forcing Panama Canal to introduce shipping restrictions, that is, to adjust the draft limit of large ships.view
The Rise of E-Commerce: Impact on China to USA Courier ServiceApril 9, 2025With the popularization of the Internet and the rapid development of science and technology, e-commerce is booming in the world. As an important player in e-commerce, China's rise has not only cha...view
English 
português 
Call us on: 
Email Us: 
International Mayors Exchange Center, No. 55 Shizhou Middle Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen Guangdong China 
