Every product you import into the US has a Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code, and that code decides how much duty you pay, which extra tariffs apply and whether you benefit from trade deals. Get it wrong and you risk overpaying, underpaying, or delays at customs. Here is how to find the right code and the duty rate, using free official tools.

How an HTS code is built

The US code has 10 digits. The first six follow the international Harmonized System (HS) used by most countries, so your Chinese export code and the US import code usually share them. The rest are US-specific:

Digits	Level	Example: 8516.71.00
1–2	Chapter	85: electrical machinery and equipment
1–4	Heading	8516: electric heating appliances
1–6	Subheading (international HS)	8516.71: coffee or tea makers
1–8	US tariff rate line	8516.71.00: sets the US duty rate
9–10	Statistical suffix	Used for trade statistics; required on entries

The example line, "Electrothermic coffee or tea makers, for domestic purposes," appears on the U.S. Import List published by the White House on September 27, 2026. Read more in our article on the US–China "30-for-30" list.

Step 1: search the official HTS

The US International Trade Commission publishes the schedule at hts.usitc.gov. Search by keyword (for example "coffee maker") and by the 6-digit code from your Chinese export declaration. For each line you will see:

• General rate: the normal duty for most countries, including China.
• Special rates: lower rates under trade agreements and programs, shown with program codes.
• Column 2: higher rates for a small number of countries.

Read the chapter notes and section notes too. They often decide which heading wins when a product could fit in two places.

Step 2: check additional duties

The "General" rate is not the whole story for goods from China. Additional duties, such as Section 301 tariffs and other measures, are listed in Chapter 99 of the HTS and are added on top of the base rate. These have changed often in recent years, so confirm the current total with a licensed customs broker before you calculate landed cost.

Step 3: look for existing CBP rulings

U.S. Customs and Border Protection publishes its classification decisions in the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS). Search for products like yours to see which code CBP chose and why. Rulings for similar items are useful guidance, though a ruling is binding only for the specific transaction it describes.

Step 4: request a binding ruling if unsure

If your product is new or could fit several codes, you can ask CBP for a binding ruling through its eRulings portal. According to CBP's eRuling requirements page, the National Commodity Specialist Division "will generally issue all such rulings within 30 calendar days," though lab analysis or consultation with another agency can delay it, and referrals to headquarters can take up to 90 days. The request must include a full description of the product and the transaction. CBP advises importers to provide a copy of the ruling with entry documents.

What to prepare for each product

• Exact product description: what it is, what it does, how it works.
• Materials and their percentages by weight or value.
• Photos, drawings or a sample, and the retail packaging.
• Whether it is sold as a set, and what is in the set.
• Your supplier's HS code (as a starting point, not the final answer).

Common mistakes

1. Copying the supplier's code without checking US notes and rulings.
2. Classifying by use only, when material or function decides the heading.
3. Forgetting Chapter 99 additional duties when calculating landed cost.
4. Using one code for all variants, even when materials differ.
5. Not keeping records of how each code was chosen.

Tip: Keep a simple classification sheet per SKU: HTS code, duty rates, the reasoning, and links to any CROSS rulings you relied on. It saves time with every new broker and every policy change.

How Atronia Innovations helps

We work with licensed customs brokers so Chinese brands can land products in the US with clear costs, then sell and ship them across Amazon, Walmart and TikTok Shop. See our logistics services or talk to our team.

Sources

• U.S. International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule search
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Requirements for electronic ruling requests (updated Aug 21, 2026)
• The White House — U.S. Import List (Sept 27, 2026)

每一件进口到美国的商品都有一个美国协调关税表（HTS）编码，它决定了你要交多少关税、适用哪些额外关税，以及能否享受贸易协定的优惠。编码填错，可能多交税、少交税，或者在海关被卡。下面教你用免费的官方工具找到正确的编码和税率。

HTS 编码的结构

美国编码共 10 位。前 6 位遵循大多数国家通用的协调制度（HS），所以国内出口报关的编码和美国进口编码通常前 6 位相同，后面几位是美国特有的：

位数	层级	示例：8516.71.00
1–2 位	章	85：电机电气设备
1–4 位	品目	8516：电热器具
1–6 位	子目（国际 HS）	8516.71：咖啡机或茶壶
1–8 位	美国税率行	8516.71.00：决定美国关税税率
9–10 位	统计后缀	用于贸易统计，报关时必须填写

示例中的“家用电热咖啡机或茶壶”出现在白宫 2026 年 9 月 27 日公布的《U.S. Import List》上。详见我们关于中美“30 换 30”清单的解读。

第一步：在官方 HTS 中检索

美国国际贸易委员会（USITC）在 hts.usitc.gov 公布关税表。可以按关键词（如 “coffee maker”）检索，也可以用国内出口报关单上的 6 位编码查找。每个税号会显示：

• General（普通税率）：适用于包括中国在内大多数国家的正常关税；
• Special（特惠税率）：贸易协定和优惠项目下的较低税率，附项目代码；
• Column 2（第二栏）：适用于少数国家的较高税率。

同时要读章注和类注，产品可能归入两个品目时，往往由注释决定。

第二步：确认额外关税

对中国商品来说，“普通税率”并不是全部。301 关税等额外关税列在 HTS 第 99 章，在基础税率之上叠加征收。近年来这些税率变化频繁，计算到岸成本前，请向持牌报关行确认当前合计税率。

第三步：查找 CBP 已有裁定

美国海关（CBP）把归类决定公布在 海关裁定在线检索系统（CROSS）。检索与你类似的产品，看看 CBP 选了哪个编码、理由是什么。类似产品的裁定很有参考价值，但裁定只对其所述的具体交易具有约束力。

第四步：拿不准时申请预裁定

如果是新产品，或者可能归入多个编码，可以通过 CBP 的 eRulings 平台申请具有约束力的预裁定。根据 CBP 电子裁定申请要求页面，国家商品专家处（NCSD）“一般会在收到申请后 30 个日历日内作出裁定”，如需实验室检测或征询其他机构会有延迟，转交总部处理的最长可达 90 天。申请需完整描述产品和交易情况。CBP 建议进口时随报关文件附上裁定书副本。

每个产品要准备什么资料

• 准确的产品描述：是什么、做什么用、如何工作；
• 材质构成及按重量或价值计算的占比；
• 照片、图纸或样品，以及零售包装；
• 是否以套装销售，套装里有什么；
• 供应商提供的 HS 编码（只作参考，不是最终答案）。

常见错误

1. 直接照抄供应商编码，不核对美国注释和裁定；
2. 只按用途归类，而实际上材质或功能才决定品目；
3. 计算到岸成本时忘了第 99 章的额外关税；
4. 材质不同的变体共用一个编码；
5. 没有记录每个编码是如何确定的。

小提示：为每个 SKU 建一张归类表：HTS 编码、税率、归类理由，以及参考过的 CROSS 裁定链接。每次换报关行或政策变化时，都能省下大量时间。

Atronia Innovations 能帮你什么

我们与持牌报关行合作，帮助国内品牌以清晰的成本把产品运到美国，再通过亚马逊、沃尔玛和 TikTok Shop 销售和配送。了解我们的物流服务，或联系我们。

信息来源

• U.S. International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule 检索
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — 电子裁定申请要求（2026 年 8 月 21 日更新）
• The White House — U.S. Import List（2026 年 9 月 27 日）