Chapter 82
Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
Section XV — Base metals and articles of base metal · 15 headings · 64 subheadings
Duty in chapter 82 at a glance
Counted across the 223 US national lines beneath this chapter's subheadings. It says what kind of chapter this is before you read ninety headings to find out.
- Duty-free lines
- 59 of 223 stating a rate
- Ad valorem range
- 1.6% – 14%
- Dutiable per unit, not on value
- 49 lines are charged per kilogram, litre or item rather than as a percentage of the customs value. A landed-cost estimate built from value alone will understate the duty on those.
- Rates stated in words
- 5 lines state the duty by reference to another part of the schedule rather than as a figure — for example "the duty provided in the applicable subheading". Those cannot be computed from the line alone.
Preference programmes appearing in this chapter
Named from General Note 3(c)(i). A programme appearing here does not mean it applies to your goods — that depends on the line, the origin and the agreement's rules of origin.
Legal notes
Reproduced from the published tariff schedule. Section and chapter notes are binding and part of the nomenclature; statistical notes are US reporting rules and are not classification law.
Section XV notes BASE METALS AND ARTICLES OF BASE METAL
1. This section does not cover:
(a) Prepared paints, inks or other products with a basis of metallic flakes or powder (headings 3207 to 3210, 3212, 3213 or 3215);
(b) Ferrocerium or other pyrophoric alloys (heading 3606);
(c) Headgear or parts thereof of heading 6506 or 6507;
(d) Umbrella frames or other articles of heading 6603;
(e) Goods of chapter 71 (for example, precious metal alloys, base metal clad with precious metal, imitation jewelry);
(f) Articles of section XVI (machinery, mechanical appliances and electrical goods);
(g) Assembled railway or tramway track (heading 8608) or other articles of section XVII (vehicles, ships and boats, aircraft);
(h) Instruments or apparatus of section XVIII, including clock or watch springs;
(ij) Lead shot prepared for ammunition (heading 9306) or other articles of section XIX (arms and ammunition);
(k) Articles of chapter 94 (for example, furniture, mattress supports, luminaires and lighting fittings, illuminated signs, prefabricated buildings);
(l) Articles of chapter 95 (for example, toys, games, sports equipment);
(m) Hand sieves, buttons, pens, pencil-holders, pen nibs, monopods, bipods, tripods and similar articles or other articles of chapter 96 (miscellaneous manufactured articles); or
(n) Articles of chapter 97 (for example, works of art).
2. Throughout the tariff schedule, the expression "parts of general use" means:
(a) Articles of heading 7307, 7312, 7315, 7317 or 7318 and similar articles of other base metal, other than articles specially designed for use exclusively in implants in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences (heading 9021);
(b) Springs and leaves for springs, of base metal, other than clock or watch springs (heading 9114); and
(c) Articles of heading 8301, 8302, 8308 or 8310 and frames and mirrors, of base metal, of heading 8306.
In chapters 73 to 76 and 78 to 82 (but not in heading 7315) references to parts of goods do not include references to parts of general use as defined above.
Subject to the preceding paragraph and to note 1 to chapter 83, the articles of chapter 82 or 83 are excluded from chapters 72 to 76 and 78 to 81.
3. Throughout the schedule, the expression "base metals" means: iron and steel, copper, nickel, aluminum, lead, zinc, tin, tungsten (wolfram), molybdenum, tantalum, magnesium, cobalt, bismuth, cadmium, titanium, zirconium, antimony, manganese, beryllium, chromium, germanium, vanadium, gallium, hafnium, indium, niobium (columbium), rhenium and thallium.
4. Throughout the schedule, the term "cermets" means products containing a microscopic heterogeneous combination of a metallic component and a ceramic component. The term "cermets" includes sintered metal carbides (metal carbides sintered with a metal).
5. Classification of alloys (other than ferroalloys and master alloys as defined in chapters 72 and 74):
(a) An alloy of base metals is to be classified as an alloy of the metal which predominates by weight over each of the other metals.
Notes (con.)
(b) An alloy composed of base metals of this section and of elements not falling within this section is to be treated as an alloy of base metals of this section if the total weight of such metals equals or exceeds the total weight of the other elements present.
(c) In this section the term "alloys" includes sintered mixtures of metal powders, heterogeneous intimate mixtures obtained by melting (other than cermets) and intermetallic compounds.
6. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in the tariff schedule to a base metal includes a reference to alloys which, by virtue of note 5 above, are to be classified as alloys of that metal.
7. Classification of composite articles:
Except where the headings otherwise require, articles of base metal (including articles of mixed materials treated as articles of base metal under the General Rules of Interpretation) containing two or more base metals are to be treated as articles of the base metal predominating by weight over each of the other metals. For this purpose:
(a) Iron and steel, or different kinds of iron or steel, are regarded as one and the same metal;
(b) An alloy is regarded as being entirely composed of that metal as an alloy of which, by virtue of note 5, it is classified; and
(c) A cermet of heading 8113 is regarded as a single base metal.
8. In this section, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them:
(a) Waste and scrap
(i) All metal waste and scrap;
(ii) Metal goods definitely not usable as such because of breakage, cutting-up, wear or other reasons.
(b) Powders
Products of which 90 percent or more by weight passes through a sieve having a mesh aperture of 1 mm.
9. For the purposes of chapters 74 to 76 and 78 to 81, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them:
(a) Bars and rods
Rolled, extruded, drawn or forged products, not in coils, which have a uniform solid cross section along their whole length in the shape of circles, ovals, rectangles (including squares), equilateral triangles or regular convex polygons (including “flattened circles” and “modified rectangles”, of which two opposite sides are convex arcs, the other two sides being straight, of equal length and parallel). Products with a rectangular (including square), triangular or polygonal cross section may have corners rounded along their whole length. The thickness of such products which have a rectangular (including “modified rectangular”) cross section exceeds one-tenth of the width. The expression also covers cast or sintered products, of the same forms and dimensions, which have been subsequently worked after production (otherwise than by simple trimming or de-scaling), provided that they have not thereby assumed the character of articles or products of other headings.
Wire bars and billets of chapter 74 with their ends tapered or otherwise worked simply to facilitate their entry into machines for converting them into, for example, drawing stock (wire rod) or tubes, are however to be taken to be unwrought copper of heading 7403. This provision applies mutatis mutandis to the products of chapter 81.
(b) Profiles
Rolled, extruded, drawn, forged or formed products, coiled or not, of a uniform cross section along their whole length, which do not conform to any of the definitions of bars, rods, wire, plates, sheets, strip, foil, tubes or pipes. The expression also covers cast or sintered products, of the same forms, which have been subsequently worked after production (otherwise than by simple trimming or de-scaling), provided that they have not thereby assumed the character of articles or products of other headings.
(c) Wire
Rolled, extruded or drawn products, in coils, which have a uniform solid cross section along their whole length in the shape of circles, ovals, rectangles (including squares), equilateral triangles or regular convex polygons (including “flattened circles” and “modified rectangles”, of which two opposite sides are convex arcs, the other two sides being straight, of equal length and parallel). Products with a rectangular (including square), triangular or polygonal cross section may have corners rounded along their whole
Notes (con.)
length. The thickness of such products which have a rectangular (including “modified rectangular”) cross section exceeds one-tenth of the width.
(d) Plates, sheets, strip and foil
Flat-surfaced products (other than the unwrought products), coiled or not, of solid rectangular (other than square) cross section with or without rounded corners (including “modified rectangles” of which two opposite sides are convex arcs, the other two sides being straight, of equal length and parallel) of a uniform thickness, which are:
-of rectangular (including square) shape with a thickness not exceeding one-tenth of the width;
-of a shape other than rectangular or square, of any size, provided that they do not assume the character of articles or products of other headings.
Headings for plates, sheets, strip, and foil apply, inter alia, to plates, sheets, strip, and foil with patterns (for example, grooves, ribs, checkers, tears, buttons, lozenges) and to such products which have been perforated, corrugated, polished or coated, provided that they do not thereby assume the character of articles or products of other headings.
(e) Tubes and pipes
Hollow products, coiled or not, which have a uniform cross section with only one enclosed void along their whole length in the shape of circles, ovals, rectangles (including squares), equilateral triangles or regular convex polygons, and which have a uniform wall thickness. Products with a rectangular (including square), equilateral triangular or regular convex polygonal cross section, which may have corners rounded along their whole length, are also to be considered as tubes and pipes provided the inner and outer cross sections are concentric and have the same form and orientation. Tubes and pipes of the foregoing cross sections may be polished, coated, bent, threaded, drilled, waisted, expanded, cone-shaped or fitted with flanges, collars or rings.
Additional U.S. Note
1. For the purposes of this section, the term "unwrought" refers to metal, whether or not refined, in the form of ingots, blocks, lumps, billets, cakes, slabs, pigs, cathodes, anodes, briquettes, cubes, sticks, grains, sponge, pellets, flattened pellets, rounds, rondelles, shot and similar manufactured primary forms, but does not cover rolled, forged, drawn or extruded products, tubular products or cast or sintered forms which have been machined or processed otherwise than by simple trimming, scalping or descaling.
Chapter 82 — Notes
Legal Notes of the Harmonized System. Binding, and part of the international nomenclature.
1. Apart from blow torches and similar self-contained torches, portable forges, grinding wheels with frameworks, manicure or pedicure sets, and goods of heading 8209, this chapter covers only articles with a blade, working edge, working surface or other working part of:
(a) Base metal;
(b) Metal carbides or cermets;
(c) Precious or semiprecious stones (natural, synthetic or reconstructed) on a support of base metal, metal carbide or cermet; or
(d) Abrasive materials on a support of base metal, provided that the articles have cutting teeth, flutes, grooves or the like, of base metal, which retain their identity and function after the application of the abrasive.
2. Parts of base metal of the articles of this chapter are to be classified with the articles of which they are parts, except parts separately specified as such and toolholders for handtools (heading 8466). However, parts of general use as defined in note 2 to section XV are in all cases excluded from this chapter.
Heads, blades and cutting plates for electric shavers and electric hair clippers are to be classified in heading 8510.
3. Sets consisting of one or more knives of heading 8211 and at least an equal number of articles of heading 8215 are to be classified in heading 8215.
Chapter 82 — Additional U.S. Notes
Additional U.S. Notes. Binding in the United States; not part of the international HS.
1. The provisions in this chapter which specifically refer to kitchen or tableware include articles of types which are used outdoors as well as those which are used indoors.
2. In determining the length of files and rasps (heading 8203), the tang (if any) should not be included.
3. For the purposes of determining the rate of duty applicable to sets provided for in heading 8205, 8206, 8211 or 8215, a specific rate of duty or a compound rate of duty for any article in the set shall be converted to its ad valorem equivalent rate, i.e., the ad valorem rate which, when applied to the full value of the article determined in accordance with section 402 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, would provide the same amount of duties as the specific or compound rate.
Chapter 82 — Statistical Notes
US statistical reporting only. NOT classification law.
1. For the purposes of statistical reporting of sets in heading 8205, 8206, 8211 or 8215, the number of pieces reported shall be the total number of separate pieces in the set(s).
2. For the purposes of subheading 8211.92, the term "sheath-type knives" refers to fixed-blade knives contained in a substantial holster, i.e.,"sheath" and of a kind used in hunting and fishing.
Notes are reproduced from the published tariff schedule. They govern classification, but reading them is not the same as applying them to your goods — that is what a broker or a binding ruling is for.
Headings in chapter 82
8201 Handtools of the following kinds and base metal parts thereof: spades, shovels, mattocks, picks, hoes, forks and rakes; axes, bill hooks and similar hewing tools; secateurs and pruners of any kind; scythes, sickles, hay knives, hedge shears, timber wedges and other tools of a kind used in agriculture, horticulture or forestry
8202 Handsaws, and metal parts thereof; blades for saws of all kinds (including slitting, slotting or toothless saw blades), and base metal parts thereof
8203 Files, rasps, pliers (including cutting pliers), pincers, tweezers, metal cutting shears, pipe cutters, bolt cutters, perforating punches and similar handtools, and base metal parts thereof
8204 Hand-operated spanners and wrenches (including torque meter wrenches but not including tap wrenches); socket wrenches, with or without handles, drives or extensions; base metal parts thereof
8205 Handtools (including glass cutters) not elsewhere specified or included; blow torches and similar self-contained torches; vises, clamps and the like, other than accessories for and parts of machine tools or water-jet cutting machines; anvils; portable forges; hand- or pedal-operated grinding wheels with frameworks; base metal parts thereof
8207 Interchangeable tools for handtools, whether or not power operated, or for machine-tools (for example, for pressing, stamping, punching, tapping, threading, drilling, boring, broaching, milling, turning or screwdriving), including dies for drawing or extruding metal, and rock drilling or earth boring tools; base metal parts thereof
8208 Knives and cutting blades, for machines or for mechanical appliances, and base metal parts thereof
8211 Knives with cutting blades, serrated or not (including pruning knives), other than knives of heading 8208, and blades and other base metal parts thereof
8212 Razors and razor blades (including razor blade blanks in strips), and base metal parts thereof
8213
8214 Other articles of cutlery (for example, hair clippers, butchers' or kitchen cleavers, chopping or mincing knives, paper knives); manicure or pedicure sets and instruments (including nail files); base metal parts thereof
8215 Spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives, sugar tongs and similar kitchen or tableware; and base metal parts thereof
Other chapters
Common questions
What does HS chapter 82 cover?
Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal. It contains 15 headings and 64 six-digit subheadings, and sits in Section XV (base metals and articles of base metal).
Are chapter 82's notes legally binding?
This chapter carries 11 binding note paragraph(s) — legal notes of the Harmonized System, plus any US-specific Additional U.S. Notes. They decide classification, and they outrank the wording of an individual subheading. A further 2 statistical note paragraph(s) govern US reporting only and are not classification law.