Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-02-06 Origin: Site
In international trade, the classification and coding of commodities are crucial processes. They are not only related to the accurate declaration of goods and the calculation of tariffs, but also affect trade statistics, customs supervision and many other aspects. The HS Code (Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System) is a globally widely used commodity classification system at present.
Definition of HS Code
The HS Code is a set of internationally universal commodity classification and coding systems formulated by the World Customs Organization (WCO). It aims to provide a unified classification standard for commodities worldwide to promote the facilitation and standardization of international trade. First implemented in 1988, the HS Code has become an indispensable part of international trade.
Structure of HS Code
The HS Code consists of two parts: the code itself and the corresponding commodity description.
A standard HS Code is composed of six numerical digits, divided into two hierarchical levels:
The first two digits represent the Chapter of the commodity.
The next two digits represent the Heading under the chapter.
The last two digits represent the Subheading under the heading.
Some countries and regions add national or regional supplementary codes based on the six-digit HS Code to meet their own regulatory and statistical needs.
Chapter: The first two digits of the HS Code indicate the chapter to which the commodity belongs. There are 99 chapters in total, covering all commodity categories from live animals to works of art.
Heading: On the basis of chapters, the next two digits further subdivide commodity categories to form more specific classifications.
Subheading: The last two digits are used to further refine commodity classifications to meet more precise regulatory and statistical requirements.
Applications of HS Code
The HS Code has an extensive range of applications in international trade, mainly including the following aspects:
Tariff Collection
The HS Code is the primary basis for customs to determine the tariff rate of commodities. Through the HS Code, the corresponding tariff rate of a commodity can be quickly found to calculate the payable tariff.
Trade Statistics
The HS Code provides a unified commodity classification standard for customs and statistical departments of all countries, facilitating the statistics and analysis of import and export commodities.
Customs Supervision
The HS Code helps customs quickly identify and classify import and export commodities, thereby improving customs clearance efficiency and strengthening supervision.
Trade Policy Formulation
Governments can formulate corresponding trade policies such as tariff reductions and quota restrictions based on the classification of import and export commodities by the HS Code.
Importance of HS Code
The importance of the HS Code in international trade is reflected in the following aspects:
Promoting the Facilitation of International Trade
A unified commodity classification standard helps simplify customs clearance procedures, reduce trade costs and improve trade efficiency.
Enhancing Trade Transparency
The HS Code provides standardized commodity classification information for governments, enterprises and research institutions of all countries, helping to improve trade transparency and promote fair competition.
Strengthening International Trade Cooperation
As an internationally universal commodity classification system, the HS Code facilitates cooperation and coordination between customs of all countries to jointly crack down on illegal acts such as smuggling and counterfeit and shoddy commodities.
As an indispensable commodity classification system in international trade, the HS Code has made great contributions to the facilitation, standardization and transparency of global trade. Understanding and mastering the HS Code is of great practical significance for enterprises and individuals engaged in international trade.
