Customs classification for importing into the United States

For importing into the United States, all commodities have a specific customs classification for statistical purposes. It is crucial to follow the correct classification in all documentation included in the customs clearance process for importing into the U.S.

U.S. import customs - the importance of relying on a specialized customs broker for U.S. import procedures

The key to a smooth U.S. import customs process is careful planning

It is crucial to plan the import operation before the goods even depart for the United States.

Relying on an experienced U.S. customs broker who specializes in import procedures is the key to preparing an import file that ensures a fast and hassle-free customs clearance in the United States.

Steps for a successful U.S. import process

1. Commodity classification
   The first step is to correctly identify the commodities or products being imported into the U.S. to ensure accurate customs classification.

2. Regulatory compliance
   Determine whether special certifications or permits are required for U.S. imports, such as:

   • FDA approval
   • Import Permits
   • USDA certification
   • UL & FCC compliance
   • Flammability regulations
   • Apparel labeling rules
   • Import quotas
   • Alcohol import licenses

3. Customs duties calculation
   A proper customs classification also allows for the exact calculation of U.S. import duties.

Why work with a U.S. customs broker?

Before the shipment departs, a specialized Customs Broker will review all required documentation to ensure compliance, including the packing list and commercial invoice.

• Packing List Format: U.S. Customs does not recognize pallets as a valid packaging unit. A properly formatted packing list must detail items by cartons, not by pallet. For clarity, a reference to pallets can be included, but the primary classification must be by cartons.
• Proforma Invoices: Unlike some other countries, U.S. Customs does not officially recognize proforma invoices. While they may be tolerated in some cases, the law does not consider them valid for customs clearance.

Security filings and hazardous materials

• ISF Filing (Importer Security Filing)

Certain security filings are required by U.S. Customs, such as the ISF filing, which must be submitted before the shipment departs for the U.S.

• HAZMAT Compliance

Before clearance, every U.S. Customs Broker will check for any hazardous materials (HAZMAT) being imported, ensuring compliance with regulations related to:

• Flammability
• Explosion risks
• Corrosivity
• Other hazardous classifications

By properly planning the customs process and working with a specialized U.S. Customs Broker, importers can avoid delays, minimize risks, and ensure smooth entry into the U.S. market.

Commodity customs classification for U.S. import procedures

Steel

• Steel scrap
• Unalloyed steel scrap
• Stainless steel scrap (Ni ≥ 8%)
• Stainless steel scrap (Ni < 8%)
• Alloy steel scrap
• Austenitic stainless steel flat products
• Hot-rolled coils
• Hot-rolled flat products
• Cold-rolled products, thickness < 0.5mm
• Cold-rolled products, thickness ≥ 0.5mm and < 3.0mm
• Cold-rolled products, thickness ≥ 3mm
• Cold-rolled products, thickness ≤ 0.35mm, width < 600mm
• Cold-rolled products, thickness 0.35-3.00mm, width < 600mm
• Cold-rolled products, thickness ≥ 3mm, width < 600mm
• Austenitic stainless steel long products
• Wire rod
• Hot-rolled bars, diameter ≥ 80mm
• Hot-rolled bars, diameter < 80mm
• Cold-rolled bars, diameter ≥ 80mm
• Cold-rolled bars, diameter < 80mm
• Stainless steel wire
• Duplex stainless steel flat products
• Hot-rolled coils
• Hot-rolled flat products
• Cold-rolled products, thickness ≥ 0.5mm and < 3.0mm
• Cold-rolled products, thickness ≥ 3mm
• Cold-rolled products, thickness 0.35-3.00mm (excluding), width < 600mm
• Duplex stainless steel long products
• Wire rod
• Cold-rolled bars

Alloy Steel Flat Products

• Semi-finished products
• Coils
• Flat-rolled products, thickness < 4.75mm
• Flat-rolled products, thickness 4.75-10mm (inclusive)
• Flat-rolled products, thickness > 10mm
• Cold-rolled products, width ≥ 600mm
• Cold-rolled products, width < 600mm
• Electrolytically galvanized sheets
• Non-electrolytically galvanized sheets
• Oriented grain magnetic sheets
• Magnetic sheets

Alloy Steel Long Products

• Wire rod
• Hot-worked bars
• Cold-worked bars
• Steel wire

Tool Steel Products

• Flat-rolled products
• Hot-worked bars
• Cold-worked bars

Non-alloy Steel Semi-finished Products

• Billets, low-carbon, square and rectangular section
• Billets, low-carbon, circular section
• Billets, various sections
• Billets, high-carbon, square and rectangular section
• Billets, high-carbon, circular section
• Automatic steel billets

Hot-rolled Flat Products in Non-alloy Steel

• Embossed patterns
• Thickness < 3mm
• Standard thickness and width
• Thickness > 15mm or width > 2050mm

Hot-rolled Coils in Non-alloy Steel

• Embossed patterns
• Thickness < 3mm
• Thickness 3-10mm (inclusive)
• Thickness > 10mm
• Pickled, thickness < 3mm
• Pickled, thickness ≥ 3mm
• Width < 600mm, thickness 3-10mm (inclusive)

Cold-rolled Flat Products in Non-alloy Steel

• Thickness < 0.5mm
• Thickness ≥ 0.5mm and < 3.0mm
• Thickness ≥ 3mm
• Width < 600mm, thickness ≥ 0.35mm
• Width < 600mm, thickness < 0.35mm

Cold-rolled Coils in Non-alloy Steel

• Thickness < 0.5mm
• Thickness ≥ 0.5mm and < 3.0mm
• Thickness > 3mm
• Magnetic sheets

Plated or Coated Flat Products in Non-alloy Steel

• Tin-plated (tinplate)
• Electrolytically galvanized, width ≥ 600mm
• Non-electrolytically galvanized, width ≥ 600mm
• Electrolytically galvanized, width < 600mm
• Non-electrolytically galvanized, width < 600mm
• Chrome-coated
• Aluminum-coated
• Copper-coated
• Painted, width ≥ 600mm
• Painted, width < 600mm

Non-alloy Steel Wire Rod

• Low-carbon wire rod, diameter < 14mm
• High-carbon wire rod, diameter < 14mm
• Low-carbon wire rod, diameter ≥ 14mm
• High-carbon wire rod, diameter ≥ 14mm
• Reinforcing wire rod for concrete
• Tire reinforcement wire rod

Non-alloy Steel Bars

• Hot-rolled bars, irregular section
• Hot-rolled bars, low-carbon, rectangular section
• Hot-rolled bars, high-carbon, rectangular section
• Hot-rolled bars, low-carbon, circular section
• Hot-rolled bars, high-carbon, circular section
• Hot-rolled bars, automatic steel
• Reinforcing bars for concrete
• Cold-rolled bars, low-carbon, rectangular section
• Cold-rolled bars, high-carbon
• Cold-rolled bars, low-carbon, circular section
• Cold-rolled bars, automatic steel

Profiles in Non-alloy Steel

• Hot-rolled I, H, or U profiles, height < 80mm
• Hot-rolled L profiles, height < 80mm
• Hot-rolled I profiles, height ≥ 80mm
• Hot-rolled U profiles, height 80-220mm (inclusive)
• Hot-rolled L profiles, height ≥ 80mm
• Hot-rolled U profiles, height > 220mm
• Cold-rolled L profiles
• Cold-rolled profiles, various sections
• Corrugated sheets

Non-alloy Steel Wires

• Irregular section
• Uncoated, low-carbon
• Uncoated, high-carbon
• Galvanized, low-carbon
• Galvanized, high-carbon

Iron or Steel Pipes

• Welded pipes, circular section, external diameter ≤ 168.3mm
• Welded pipes, square or rectangular, wall thickness ≤ 2mm, made of iron or non-stainless steel
• Welded pipes, square or rectangular, wall thickness > 2mm, made of iron or non-stainless steel
• Welded pipes (non-circular section), made of iron or non-stainless steel

Iron and Cast Iron

• Iron ores
• Agglomerated iron ores
• Non-agglomerated iron ores

Ferro-alloys

• Ferro-molybdenum
• Ferro-nickel
• Ferro-silicon-manganese
• Ferro-chrome
• Ferro-manganese
• Ferro-silicon

Cast Iron

• Cast iron scrap
• Unalloyed cast iron ingots
• Cast iron castings

Aluminum

• Unalloyed aluminum
• Alumina
• Aluminum scrap
• Unalloyed raw aluminum
• Unalloyed aluminum bars
• Unalloyed aluminum profiles
• Unalloyed aluminum wires, section > 7mm
• Unalloyed aluminum sheets
• Thin aluminum foil
• Unalloyed aluminum tubes

Aluminum Alloys

• Raw aluminum alloys in sheet or billet form
• Raw aluminum alloys (excluding sheets and billets)
• Aluminum alloy bars
• Aluminum alloy profiles
• Aluminum alloy wires, section > 7mm
• Aluminum alloy sheets
• Aluminum alloy tubes

Copper

• Unalloyed copper
• Copper ores
• Refined copper scrap
• Refined copper cathodes
• Refined copper billets
• Refined copper bars and profiles
• Copper wires, section < 0.5mm
• Copper wires, section > 6mm
• Copper wires, section 0.5 - 6mm
• Rolled copper strips
• Thin copper foil
• Copper tubes

Bronze

• Bronze scrap
• Bronze
• Rolled bronze strips

Brass

• Brass scrap
• Brass
• Brass bars
• Brass wires
• Rolled brass strips

Other Non-Ferrous Metals

Nickel

• Nickel ores
• Nickel scrap
• Nickel matte
• Unalloyed raw nickel
• Raw nickel alloys
• Nickel alloy bars and profiles
• Nickel alloy wires
• Unalloyed nickel sheets
• Nickel alloy sheets
• Nickel alloy tubes

Zinc

• Zinc ores
• Zinc scrap
• Powdered zinc
• Unalloyed raw zinc
• Zinc alloys
• Zinc sheets

Lead

• Lead ores
• Lead scrap
• Refined raw lead
• Lead sheets

Precious Metals

• Raw gold
• Raw platinum
• Raw palladium
• Raw silver
• Semi-processed silver

Other Metals

• Raw magnesium
• Raw manganese (powders)
• Raw chromium (powders)
• Raw molybdenum
• Raw indium and indium powders
• Raw bismuth, scraps, residues, and powders

Tin

• Tin scrap
• Unalloyed raw tin
• Raw tin alloys
• Tin bars, profiles, and wires

Food & Beverage

Meat and Fish

• Boneless frozen lamb meat
• Boneless frozen ovine meat
• Boneless frozen beef
• Pig carcasses
• Non-boneless hams
• Boneless fresh or refrigerated pork
• Boneless frozen pork
• Boneless dried or smoked pork
• Frozen prawns
• Frozen shrimp

Cereals

• Corn
• Barley
• Soft wheat
• Durum wheat
• Wheat flour
• Wheat semolina
• Wheat starch
• Corn starch
• Wheat gluten
• Malted wheat

Cocoa

• Cocoa beans
• Cocoa butter
• Cocoa paste
• Cocoa powder

Coffee

• Raw coffee
• Roasted coffee
• Decaffeinated coffee
• Roasted decaffeinated coffee

Seeds and Legumes

• Soybeans
• Rapeseeds
• Peanuts

Olive Oil

• Olive oil
• Virgin olive oil

Other Edible Oils

• Raw coconut oil
• Refined coconut oil
• Raw rapeseed oil
• Refined rapeseed oil
• Raw soybean oil
• Refined soybean oil
• Raw peanut oil
• Refined peanut oil
• Palm oil
• Raw palm oil
• Raw palm kernel oil
• Refined palm oil
• Refined palm kernel oil

Leather & Hides

• Leather and hides
• Fresh bovine hides
• Raw bovine hides, green salted
• Dry ovine hides
• Wet ovine hides
• Large dry bovine hides
• Large wet bovine hides
• Whole bovine hides, prepared and split grain-side
• Bovine hides, prepared and split grain-side
• Ovine hides, prepared and split
• Bovine hides, prepared and split flesh-side
• Caprine hides, prepared
• Porcine hides, prepared
• Varnished, lacquered, or metallic leather and hides

Paper

Paper Packaging

• Office and warehouse cardboard packaging
• Non-corrugated cardboard boxes
• Corrugated cardboard boxes
• Large-capacity sacks
• Bags, envelopes, pouches, and cartons

Graphic Paper

• Recyclable newspaper and magazine paper
• Newsprint paper
• A4 paper sheets, weight 40 - 150 g/m²
• A4 coated paper
• Lightweight coated paper ("L.W.C.")

Pulp for Paper

• Recycled paper and cardboard
• Wood chemical pulps for dissolution
• Chemical pulps (non-coniferous), soda or sulfate, bleached
• Chemical pulps (coniferous), bisulfite, bleached
• Chemical pulps (coniferous), soda or sulfate, bleached
• Chemical pulps (non-coniferous), bisulfite, bleached
• Cotton linter pulp

Paper for Packaging

• Kraft paper ≤150 g/m², bleached pulp
• Kraft paper ≤150 g/m², unbleached
• Kraft paper for large-capacity sacks, unbleached
• Kraftliner 150-175 g/m²
• Kraftliner <150 g/m²
• Kraftliner ≥175 g/m²
• Testliner ≤150 g/m²
• Testliner >150 g/m²
• Wellenstoff paper for corrugated material
• Corrugated paper and cardboard
• Semichemical fluting paper

Other Paper Uses

• Tissue paper ≤ 25 g/m²
• Tissue paper > 25 g/m²
• Self-copying paper
• "Crystal" paper
• Greaseproof paper

Wood

• Wood products
• Wood pellets
• Plywood, veneered, or laminated wood
• Plywood made exclusively of wood sheets
• Phenolic plywood
• Simple loading pallets
• Oriented strand board (OSB) panels, raw or simply sanded

Raw Wood

• Raw white fir wood
• Raw birch wood
• Raw coniferous wood (excluding fir and pine)
• Raw beech wood
• Raw pine wood
• Raw poplar wood

Sawn or Cut Wood

• Sawn or cut white fir wood
• Sawn or cut coniferous wood (excluding fir and pine)
• Sawn or cut beech wood
• Sawn or cut pine wood
• Sawn or cut Meranti wood
• Planed white fir wood
• Planed coniferous wood (excluding fir and pine)
• Planed pine wood

Logs

• White fir logs
• Birch logs
• Conifer logs (excluding fir and pine)
• Beech logs
• Pine logs
• Poplar logs

Textile and Chemical Fibers

Cashmere Wool

• Cashmere wool
• Combed cashmere wool

Wool

• Scoured sheared wool
• Greasy sheared wool
• Combed wool
• Carded wool yarns
• Raw combed wool yarns
• Processed combed wool yarns
• Combed wool fabrics, weight ≤ 200 g/m²
• Combed wool fabrics, weight > 200 g/m²

Synthetic and Artificial Fibers

• Polyester staple fibers
• Nylon or other polyamide staple fibers
• Polypropylene staple fibers
• Rayon viscose staple fibers
• Acrylic staple fibers
• Polyester yarns
• Nylon or other polyamide yarns
• Polypropylene yarns
• Rayon viscose yarns
• Textured polyester yarns
• Textured nylon and other polyamide yarns
• Textured polypropylene yarns
• High-tenacity polyester yarns
• High-tenacity nylon or other polyamide yarns
• High-tenacity rayon viscose yarns

Cotton

• Raw cotton
• Carded or combed cotton
• Combed fiber yarns
• Uncombed fiber yarns
• Raw plain-weave fabrics
• Twisted yarns of combed fibers

Basic Organic Chemistry

Organic Acids

• Ethyl acetate
• n-Butyl acetate
• Vinyl acetate
• Acetic acid
• Acrylic acid and its salts
• Adipic acid
• Benzoic acid
• Methacrylic acid and its salts
• Terephthalic acid and its salts
• Phthalic anhydride
• Maleic anhydride

Hydrocarbons

• Ethylene
• Propylene
• Butylene
• Isoprene
• Cyclohexane
• Benzene
• Toluene
• Xylene
• Styrene
• Ethylbenzene
• Cumene

Phenols

• Diphenylolpropane (bisphenol)
• Hydroxybenzene
• Monophenols

Alcohols

• Methanol
• Propanol
• Butanediol
• Butanol
• Ethylene glycol
• Propylene glycol

Epoxides

• Epichlorohydrin
• Ethylene oxide
• Propylene oxide

Ketones

• Acetone
• Cyclohexanone and methylcyclohexanones
• Methyl isobutyl ketone

Other Organic Compounds

• Acrylic acid esters
• Methacrylic acid esters
• Acrylonitrile
• Aniline and its salts
• Vinyl chloride

Basic Inorganic Chemistry

Salts

• Silver nitrate
• Aluminum chloride
• Calcium phosphate
• Copper sulfate

Various Inorganics

• Carbon
• Ammonia
• Caustic soda
• Phosphoric acid
• Silica
• Silicon

Chemical Industry Products

Various Products

• Glazier's putty
• Silicones

Paints, Coatings, Pigments, and Dyes

• Dyes
• Pigment dyes
• Titanium dioxide-based pigments
• Pigments for ceramics, enamel, or glass
• Polyester-based paints and coatings
• Acrylic or vinyl polymer-based paints and coatings
• Synthetic polymer-based paints and coatings
• Water-based paints with acrylic or vinyl polymers
• Water-based paints with synthetic polymers

Fertilizers

• Potassium chloride
• Diammonium phosphate
• Ammonium nitrate
• Ammonium sulfate
• Potassium sulfate
• Urea

Plastics and Elastomers

Natural Rubber and Elastomers

• Natural rubber latex
• Natural rubber (TSNR)
• Butadiene-styrene rubber latex in solution (S-SBR)
• Butadiene-styrene rubber latex (SBR)
• Styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber latex (SBS)
• Butadiene-styrene rubber latex in emulsion (E-SBR)
• Butadiene-styrene rubber (SBR)
• Butadiene rubber (BR)
• Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR)
• Isoprene rubber (IR)
• Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)
• Halogenated isobutene-isoprene rubber (CIIR or BIIR)
• Polyisobutylene
• Fluoroelastomer (FKM)
• Carbon black or silica-added rubber

Sheets, Films, and Plastic Sheets

• Polyethylene sheets, films, and foils
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets, films, and foils
• Stretch polyethylene films
• Polypropylene sheets, films, and foils
• Ethylene polymer sheets, films, and foils
• Styrene polymer sheets, films, and foils
• PMMA sheets, films, and foils
• Polypropylene polymer sheets, films, and foils
• PVC sheets, films, and foils

Thermosetting Plastics in Primary Forms

• Polyurethane (TPU)
• Alkyd resins (UP)
• Epoxy resins
• Phenolic resins (PF)
• Urea resins
• Melamine resins

Thermoplastics in Primary Forms

• Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
• Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)
• Ethylene copolymers
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• Polypropylene copolymers
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyamide (PA) -6, -11, -12, -6,6, -6,9, -6,10, or -6,12
• Other polyamides
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Expandable polystyrene (EPS)
• Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
• Polycarbonates (PC)
• Acrylic polymers
• Polyethers

Energy

Coal

• Fossil coal
• Anthracite
• Bituminous fossil coal
• Peat
• Coking coal
• Coke and semi-coke from fossil coal
• Benzol
• Naphthalene
• Toluene
• Xylene

Natural Gas

• Natural gas
• Liquefied natural gas
• Liquefied butane
• Liquefied propane
• Liquefied ethylene and derivatives

Petroleum

• Crude oil
• Petroleum bitumen
• Calcined petcoke
• Non-calcined petcoke
• Kerosene
• Fuel oil
• Medium petroleum oils
• Gas oils
• Lubricating oils
• Jet fuels
• Gasoline
• Aviation gasoline
• Diesel fuel
• Mineral spirits
• Biodiesel

Electrical and Electronic Components

Wires and Cables

• Unenameled copper winding wires
• Enameled copper winding wires
• Telecommunication cables
• Cables for voltages ≤ 80 V
• Cables for voltages 80 - 1000 V
• Cables for voltages ≥ 1000 V
• High-voltage copper cables (>1000 V)