If you are in the business of importing and/or exporting, you must perform an HS code search from time to time to determine what the harmonized number is for goods and raw materials that you may be shipping in and out of your country to and from other countries. Each product or substance crossing international borders has its own HS tariff classification number, which is part of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, an international standard for reporting goods to customs and other governmental agencies. The Harmonized Code is a classification system of numbers and words that is used by more than 200 countries, customs and economic unions around the world, affecting nearly 100 percent of global trade. It is a complex, often confusing, yet necessary system.
The Harmonized code was created by the Brussels-based World Customs Organization, or WCO, which is still responsible for administering and maintaining the system. Each HS tariff classification number contains six digits at the beginning that are used universally, and various countries can add more digits to the number depending on their own tariff and statistical needs. The resulting codes may be eight, 10 or 12 digits long. These numerical codes are used for each and every commodity that crosses an international border and is declared to customs, making it easier to calculate and assess duties and taxes, determine import and export admissibility, assess risks and other tasks.
If you are in the business of international trade, either at the commercial level or the governmental level, it is important to understand these international codes. Government officials and staff must be able to perform a quick HS code search to assess customs duties, enforce domestic regulations, perform risk assessment and collect trade statistics. Business professionals must also be able to find the correct codes to determine the landed cost of imported goods and materials, identify international selling and sourcing opportunities and bring together procurement and compliance along the supply chain.
The Harmonized code may be complex, but without it there would be no standardized system to classify goods and materials in global trade. It is an important system for anyone in the trade business to understand.
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