Harmonized Codes -Classifying Products International System of Numbering used to Classify Products

Classifying your Product Helps identify potential foreign markets Helps track activities of competitors where similar products are being shipped, quantities shipped, revenue generated off the shipments. Helps track foreign import tariffs Needed to look up tariff rates; determine whether product qualifies for preferential treatment under trade agreement like NAFTA Needed to complete SED shippers export declaration form, certificate of origin, etc.

How Harmonized System Works: HS consists of 22 sections divided into chapters; all products are described by a ten digit number that is broken down by chapter, heading subheading Section 1 Live Animals and Animal Products contains 5 chapters 03 (Chapter in which commodity is classified) Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates Examine all chapters in section before selecting specific chapter. N.e.s.o.i. ((not elsewhere specified or included) catchall category my cover your product Read chapter notes for help in classification 0302 (Heading in chapter) Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304 0302.12 (Subheading) Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon and Danube salmon First six digits are standardized worldwide Subheadings are specific 0302.12.0012 (Commodity code) Chinook (king) salmon Last four digits may vary from country to country 0000 means country did not want to classify any further

Schedule B vs. HTS Schedule B is used for exporting products from U.S. (Managed by U.S. Census Bureau in Dept. of Commerce) Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) used when importing into the U.S. (Managed by Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements in U.S. International Trade Commission) Used by customs to identify products for application of duties First six digits of both codes are the same But last four digits may and do vary.

Hints for Locating Correct Schedule B Code Go to Schedule B book Harmonized System (HS) and the Schedule B http://www.trade.gov/td/tic/tariff/hs_numbers.htm Check index for quick way of determining how product is classified Use search function on internet version Consult HTS since first 6 digits the same for both and HTS may include other terms Telephone U.S. Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce (local) or CITD or local U.S. Customs office Jagodka Concordance and Lookup http://elearn.mtsac.edu/rjagodka/Classification/Classification.asp Binding Rulings (Free service of U.S. Customs; used for imports) Review your product information and make a final determination

Standard Industrial Classification Code (SIC) 4 digit code which describes what a company does, e.g. 7378 is SIC for company “primarily engaged in the maintenance and repair of computers and computer peripheral equipment” Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/sic.html

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 6 digit code which has replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. Developed jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico Identifies many new businesses North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/sic.html

Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Developed by United Nations for reporting international trade statistics 3 to 5 digits and many statistics only reported at the 2 to 3 digit level About 100 countries report import and export trade statistics to UN (See UN COMTRADE data base for imports) Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) system http://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/family2.asp?Cl=14

Locating Statistical Trade Resources Click on http://elcamino.citd.org/trade_info/index.cfm and Go to Trade Resource Directory