Global Tariff™ — Getting Started WHAT GLOBAL TARIFF™ DELIVERS TO YOU Global Tariff provides the information you'll need to classify your goods with
their Harmonized Tariff number, and to find the duty rates that apply. Before starting, read
ABOUT THE TARIFF. Global Tariff offers
two search options: OPTION 1 ($8 an hour) A comprehensive search tool that provides powerful keyword search access to all schedules for:
OPTION 2 ($3 an hour) In this portion of Global Tariff are tariff schedules for 136 countries around the world, including E.U. TARIC countries, in the most up-to-date currently available electronic format (PDF or HTML), including advanced search tools with logical options and keyword highlighting for PDF sources. [For the United States, Canada, Mexico (Spanish), and the E.U. Common Tariff please see Option 1.] Whichever option meets your needs in terms of the country or countries required, the information finally supplied by Global Tariff are the harmonized system classification codes and import duty rates. THE BASICS The Harmonized System (H.S.) is a global commodity classification system in which products are grouped according to a number of different criteria including:
The classification is divided into 21 sections. For example, the first three are:
Each of the 21 Sections is sub-divided into Chapters, which correspond to the first two digits of a tariff classification code. In Section I, for example, there are five chapters: |
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Each Chapter is further subdivided into Tariff Headings/Subchapters, which correspond to the first four digits of a tariff classification code. Within Chapter 1 (Live Animals), there are six Headings/Subchapters and within Chapter Two (Meat and Edible Meat Offal) there are ten headings, as follows: |
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Each Heading/Subchapter is then divided into Subheadings, which corresponds to the first six digits of a tariff classification code. (Tariff classifications up to the six-digit level are the same the world over.) After Subheadings, we come to the Tariff Item level, which outlines the duty rates that apply to each product. As can be seen, by progressively drilling down through each level, the Customs classification associated with each and every product becomes increasingly more detailed.
GLOBAL TARIFF™ SEARCH ENGINES Global Tariff™ Option 1 for United States, Canada, Mexico, and E.U. puts advanced search engines at your fingertips, enabling you to find the relevant tariff code, the applicable duty rate and other related Customs information quickly and accurately. By Keyword Enter your product name and click 'Go'. That's all there is to it. Be sure to provide relevant details that define the product according to the classification system — what is it, what material it is made from and how it is manufactured or processed. It is important that you provide a good description of your product. For example, 'Knives with Serrated Blades' instead of just 'Knives' will get you the information you require more efficiently. By H.S. Code If you already know the eight or 10-digit tariff code of your product, type it in to find out the duty rate that applies. By Book View In the Book View search option, type in the first four digits of your tariff code and you will get Hierarchy for Heading, which reveals a list of subheading level of goods, along with duty treatments, unit of measurements and applicable preferential tariffs. By U.S. Rulings Searches by U.S. rulings are advantageous when the product is complex in nature. For instance, what duty should be applied to Microsoft's Xbox? How should it be classified: as a computer game, an arcade game or an entertainment system? What about a bug zapper: is it an electrical or an electronic product? Seeing how U.S. Customs rulings classify complex articles gives you an idea how your own product should be treated. Obviously U.S. rulings apply specifically to the American market, but they also give an indication about how other markets could treat the same or similar products. By Common Language Lookup If you cannot find your item in the H.S. search, click on Lookup in the menu bar. This will bring you to a search engine where you can find every instance of the word, including as a word stem, along with synonyms. This feature also comes with a Chemical Terms Lookup. By Advanced Documents Search Global Tariff™ employs an advanced and proprietary search engine, which allows you to search quickly and efficiently through any number of Customs document databases. Search settings include fuzzy and phonic. That along with a powerful feature that allows you to jump from one highlighted keyword to the next in the source PDF makes your search fast and effective.
USING THE GLOBAL TARIFF™ SEARCH TOOLS Global Tariff™ puts advanced search engines at your fingertips, enabling you to find the relevant tariff code, the applicable duty rate and other related Customs information quickly and accurately. By Keyword Enter your product name in the space provided and click 'Go'. Be sure to provide relevant details that define the product according to the classification system — what is it, what material it is made from and how it is manufactured/processed. It is important that you provide a good description of your product.
Example One: You want to import Ornamental Fish into the United States. Simply typing in 'Fish' will give you more than 30 Tariff Headings, including live, fresh, frozen or chilled fish, fish oils, fishing vessels, fishing rods, and molluscs and crustaceans. Typing in 'Live Fish' immediately refines the search, giving a more manageable five results, including the classification, 'Live Fish'. Clicking on 'Live Fish' and you get the H.S. Hierarchy for Heading (also known as Subheadings), which displays an option for 'Ornamental Fish', whose full code is '0301.10.00.00'. Click on the number and you'll find that there are no duty rates that apply to this item. If you were to type in 'Ornamental Fish' in the Keyword field, the search engine will take you straight to 'Live Fish', 0301. Example Two: You are planning to ship Vulcanized Rubber Threads into the United States. Typing in the single word 'Rubber' gives you almost 70 results to sift through. If you were to type in 'Vulcanized Rubber', however, you would get 12 items returned. Both searches will give you the code you are looking for at the Chapter/Heading level, which is '4007', but the latter more detailed search will get you moving through the system more efficiently. Typing in 'Vulcanized Rubber Thread' allows you to directly zero-in on the 4007 code. Click on '4007' and you get the full code: '4007.00.00.00'. Click on the code and you will find that there is no duty applicable under the General Tariff Treatment but there is a duty of 35% under HTSUS Column 2. Click on Tariff Treatment in the menu bar and you find that the 35% duty rate applies if the product originates from Cuba, Laos or Vietnam. Points to Note: Expanding your search parameters: The H.S. codes are arranged in a logical and well-defined structure, but there will be times when your search can become more complicated than it should. If you cannot immediately find what you are looking for, try to widen the search parameters. For example, you realize you are not closing in on the information you want after typing in 'Wooden Table'; instead try 'Furniture', 'Wooden Furniture', 'Dining Table', and so forth. In the ornamental fish example, above, our initial search could easily have centred on Chapter 1 'Live Animals', instead of 'Fish and Crustaceans etc.' in Chapter 3, where the relevant tariff code and duty information actually resides. The same would apply to 'Live Salmon'; this item is listed in Chapter 3 and not Chapter 1. Section, Chapter and Explanatory Notes: All searches you undertake will also yield relevant Section, Chapter and Explanatory notes, which highlight special points such as product inclusion or exclusion. In the example for ornamental fish above, the notes specifically state that Heading/Subchapter 0301 does not cover mammals outlined in 0106 such as whales, porpoises and dolphins along with primates and reptiles. Spellings: How words are spelt can vary from region to region. When searching the U.S. Tariff Codes, always use the American spelling convention, thus: jewelry, aluminum, flavored, etc. Canada and the European Union follow the British spelling system, thus: jewellery, aluminium and flavoured, etc. By H.S. Codes If you already know the eight or 10-digit tariff code of your product, type it in to find out the duty rate that applies. You can also use this method to find out similar products within your Chapter. Type in the first two digits of your tariff code and you will get all the Tariff Headings/Subchapters within that Chapter. For example, '01' will give you:
If you type in the first four digits, you will get product breakdowns at the Subheading level. For example, '0101' will give you:
In the Book View search option, type in the first four digits of your tariff code and you will get Hierarchy for Heading, which reveals a list of subheading level of goods, along with duty treatments, unit of measure, and applicable preferential tariffs. The page of tariff items and rates displayed closely replicates the printed page in the published version. This view is available for Canada and U.S. tariffs only. By U.S. Rulings Searches by U.S. rulings are advantageous when the product is complex in nature. For instance, what duty should be applied to Microsoft's Xbox? How should it be classified: as a computer game, an arcade game or an entertainment system? What about a bug zapper: is it an electrical or an electronic product? Seeing how U.S. Customs rulings classify complex articles gives you an idea how your own product should be treated. Obviously U.S. rulings apply specifically to the American market, but they also give an indication about how other markets could treat the same or similar products. U.S. Rulings also gives you an idea how U.S. Customs treats products in your industry. Simply type in the name of your competitors and see the special rulings that apply to their products. By Common Language Lookup If you cannot find your item keyword in the H.S. search, click on Lookup in the menu bar. This will bring you to a search engine where you can find every instance of the word, including as a word stem, along with synonyms. For example, type in 'Table' and you'll get every instance of the word in the Harmonized System, including 'vegetables', 'tables', 'desks' etc. The number of returns will be far more than you require, but after sifting out what you do not require, you will have determined the likely words used to describe your products as well as their approximate Chapter/Heading numbers. To make it easier to find the chemicals you include in your products, use our special Chemical Terms Lookup feature. By Advanced Documents Search Global Tariff™ employs an advanced and proprietary search engine, which allows you to search quickly and efficiently through any number of Customs databases. You can access this feature by clicking on 'Customs Data' in the menu bar. The Customs Data page contains a comprehensive set of Customs documents, including D-Memos, Notices, Regulations and Guides and Pamphlets. Going through each one individually can be a time consuming endeavor. A more efficient way to find what you want is use the 'Advanced Document Search' feature. Clicking on 'Advanced Document Search' button will take you to the Document Search page. In the Search field, enter the name of the product you want to classify. Highlight the document(s) you want to search. After that you have four search setting to choose from:
Once you have selected your settings, click the 'Search' button. The Search Results appear as a list of documents, weighted in an order of importance that is determined by the search parameters. The search will highlight all matched keyword locations in the PDF, automatically taking you to the portion of the document that contains the relevant information. In addition, a powerful feature allows you to jump from one highlighted keyword to the next at the click of a mouse, without having to scroll down — useful when you searching through very lengthy documents, as the tariff sources often are. The Advanced Document Search feature requires that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5 or better) installed. Back to Global Tariff™ Information Page Please be aware that while, whether Options 1 or 2, Global Tariff™ provides the user with a highly effective tool to search the HS Tariff Schedules for the countries identified, HS Classification remains a high knowledge area and as a result the information supplied by Global Tariff™ does not in any way ensure accurate HS Classification. Should there remain any doubt with the HS Classification code or codes used, the user is strongly advised to retain the services of a professional Customs Broker or Global Trade Consultant. |
2008 United States Tariff
2008 Canada Tariff
2008 Mexico Tariff [Spanish]
2008 European Union Tariff
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For assistance please send an E-MAIL to Global Tariff. Go to GLOBAL TARIFF HOME Copyright © 2008 MSR International Inc. TERMS OF USE. Last Update: JAN 3 2008 |