# HS Tariff Code

Key: `geography.transportation.hs_code`

World Customs Organization Harmonized System code for classifying traded products. 6 digits at HS level, up to 10 digits for national sub-headings. May include dot separators between groups.

Page: <https://meridian.online/docs/finetype/types/geography/transportation/hs_code>

Samples: `8471.30`, `6110.20.20`, `0901.11.00.10`, `8517.12`, `3004.90.92`

## Use it

Shell

```shell
finetype infer -i '8471.30' --mode column
# → geography.transportation.hs_code
```

DuckDB

```sql
SELECT ft_infer('8471.30');
-- → 'geography.transportation.hs_code'
```

Cast template: {col} is your column

```sql
CAST({col} AS VARCHAR)
```

## Background

### Origin

The Harmonized System is a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization.[[1]](https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx) The Harmonized System came into effect in 1988.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_System) The Harmonized System comprises more than 5,000 commodity groups, each identified by a six-digit code.[[1]](https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx) The World Customs Organization's HS Committee prepares amendments updating the Harmonized System every 5 to 6 years.[[1]](https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx)

The Harmonized System is organised into 21 Sections, which are subdivided into 96 Chapters.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_System) In a six-digit HS code, the first two digits give the Chapter, the next two the heading and the last two the subheading.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_System) The 2022 edition of the Harmonized System has 1,228 headings and 5,612 subheadings.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_System)

Parties to the Harmonized System are permitted to subdivide the nomenclature beyond six digits.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_System) The Harmonized System is used by more than 200 countries and economies as a basis for their customs tariffs.[[1]](https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx) The Harmonized System is also used for the collection of international trade statistics.[[1]](https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx)

### Use

The European Union's Combined Nomenclature is a further development of the World Customs Organization's Harmonized System nomenclature.[[3]](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/calculation-customs-duties/customs-tariff/combined-nomenclature_en) A Combined Nomenclature entry has an 8-digit code number followed by a description and a duty rate.[[3]](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/calculation-customs-duties/customs-tariff/combined-nomenclature_en) For US exports, products are classified under Schedule B, administered by the U.S. Census Bureau.[[4]](https://www.trade.gov/harmonized-system-hs-codes)

In Canada, the international six-digit HS root was extended to 8 digits for exports and 10 digits for imports.[[5]](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2021004/class-eng.htm) Statistics Canada notes that the 10-digit HS code for imports is not an extension of the 8-digit HS code for exports.[[5]](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2021004/class-eng.htm) Treat only the first six digits as comparable across countries, and keep the digits beyond them tied to the country and the direction of trade they came from. (Meridian's view)

### Where you'll meet it

The 2017 edition of Schedule B had approximately 9,000 ten-digit classification codes.[[6]](https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/2017/introduction.html)

## Sources

1. [World Customs Organization](https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx) — organisation
2. [Harmonized System - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_System) — secondary source
3. [Combined Nomenclature - Taxation and Customs Union - European Commission](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/calculation-customs-duties/customs-tariff/combined-nomenclature_en) — documentation
4. [Harmonized System (HS) Codes](https://www.trade.gov/harmonized-system-hs-codes) — documentation
5. [Canadian International Merchandise Trade Web Application: Commodity classification](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2021004/class-eng.htm) — documentation
6. [Introduction](https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/2017/introduction.html) — organisation

## How it's detected

HS is maintained by the World Customs Organization. First 6 digits are internationally standardised; additional digits are country-specific.