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81

Official Chapter Guide

Base metals, cermets, and related articles, under 99% purity, fit for specific configurations.

Tariff Landscape

  • Certain items like specific configurations of tubes and pipes can have duty-free status.
  • Generally, cermets and articles therein may have mixed duty rates; details on purity and additional treatments are crucial.
  • Watch out for potential implications under Section 232 as items may align with categories related to steel and aluminum restrictions.
  • Though not directly impacted by Section 301 for China tariffs, nuanced changes to alloy compositions could be inadvertently caught up in HTS reclassifications.

Classification Strategy

  • Ensure accurate classification of alloys by verifying the purity percentage; classification errors often occur due to incorrect alloy categorization.
  • Misunderstandings frequently arise regarding fittings, especially if they are not suitable for conducting liquids or gases.
  • Differentiating between finished articles and semi-finished materials can be complex due to varying degrees of processing.

Legal Framework

Executive Summary

  • Alloys are defined as having less than 99% of one base metal by weight, but no single metallic element exceeds this metal's composition.
  • Specific tube and pipe fittings for conducting gases or liquids, under subheading 8108.90.60, qualify for duty-free status.

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