Chapter 96 HS Codes: Chapter 96 Commodities
CHAPTER DEFINITION & SCOPE
HS Chapter 96 of the WCO Harmonized System covers chapter 96 commodities. It groups 20 4-digit WCO headings and 49 6-digit subheadings under the official 2026 customs nomenclature [USITC HTS 2026].
Chapter
Ch 96
Headings
20 Headings
Subheadings
49 HS6
US Tariff Status
Active 2026
Chapter 96 4-Digit Headings Directory
| Heading | WCO Heading Description | Subheading Count | Directory Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heading 9601 | Worked ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn, antlers, coral, mother-of-pearl and other animal carving material, and articles of these materials (including articles obtained by molding) | 2 subheadings | Browse Heading 9601 → |
| Heading 9602 | Worked vegetable or mineral carving material and articles of these materials; molded or carved articles of wax, of stearin, of natural gums or natural resins, of modeling pastes, and other molded or carved articles, not elsewhere specified or included; worked, unhardened gelatin (except gelatin of heading 3503) and articles of unhardened gelatin | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9602 → |
| Heading 9603 | Brooms, brushes (including brushes constituting parts of machines, appliances or vehicles), hand-operated mechanical floor sweepers, not motorized, mops and feather dusters; prepared knots and tufts for broom or brush making; paint pads and rollers; squeegees (other than roller squeegees) | 7 subheadings | Browse Heading 9603 → |
| Heading 9604 | Hand sieves and hand riddles | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9604 → |
| Heading 9605 | Travel sets for personal toilet, sewing or shoe or clothes cleaning (other than manicure and pedicure sets of heading 8214) | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9605 → |
| Heading 9606 | Buttons, press-fasteners, snap-fasteners and press-studs, button molds and other parts of these articles; button blanks | 5 subheadings | Browse Heading 9606 → |
| Heading 9607 | Slide fasteners and parts thereof | 3 subheadings | Browse Heading 9607 → |
| Heading 9608 | Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 | 8 subheadings | Browse Heading 9608 → |
| Heading 9609 | Pencils (other than those pencils of heading 9608), crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks and tailors' chalks | 3 subheadings | Browse Heading 9609 → |
| Heading 9610 | Slates and boards, with writing or drawing surfaces, whether or not framed | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9610 → |
| Heading 9611 | Date, sealing or numbering stamps and the like, (including devices for printing or embossing labels), designed for operating in the hand; hand-operated composing sticks and hand printing sets incorporating such composing sticks | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9611 → |
| Heading 9612 | Typewriter or similar ribbons, inked or otherwise prepared for giving impressions, whether or not on spools or in cartridges; ink pads, whether or not inked, with or without boxes | 2 subheadings | Browse Heading 9612 → |
| Heading 9613 | Cigarette lighters and other lighters, whether or not mechanical or electrical, and parts thereof other than flints and wicks | 4 subheadings | Browse Heading 9613 → |
| Heading 9614 | Smoking pipes (including pipe bowls) and cigar or cigarette holders, and parts thereof | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9614 → |
| Heading 9615 | Combs, hair-slides and the like; hairpins, curling pins, curling grips, hair-curlers and the like, other than those of heading 8516, and parts thereof | 3 subheadings | Browse Heading 9615 → |
| Heading 9616 | Scent sprayers and similar toilet sprayers, and mounts and heads therefor; powder puffs and pads for the application of cosmetics or toilet preparations | 2 subheadings | Browse Heading 9616 → |
| Heading 9617 | Vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels, complete; parts thereof other than glass inners | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9617 → |
| Heading 9618 | Tailors' dummies and other mannequins; automatons and other animated displays used for shopwindow dressing | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9618 → |
| Heading 9619 | Sanitary pads (towels) and tampons, diapers (napkins), diaper liners and similar articles, of any material | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9619 → |
| Heading 9620 | Monopods, bipods, tripods and similar articles | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9620 → |
Chapter 96 Subheading Sample & MFN Duty Rates
| HS Code | Subheading Description | Heading | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9601.10 | Worked ivory and articles of ivory | 9601 | View 9601.10 → |
| 9601.90 | Other | 9601 | View 9601.90 → |
| 9602.00 | Worked vegetable or mineral carving material and articles of these materials; molded or carved articles of wax, of stearin, of natural gums or natural resins, of modeling pastes, and other molded or carved articles, not elsewhere specified or included; worked, unhardened gelatin (except gelatin of heading 3503) and articles of unhardened gelatin | 9602 | View 9602.00 → |
| 9603.10 | Brooms and brushes, consisting of twigs or other vegetable materials bound together, with or without handles | 9603 | View 9603.10 → |
| 9603.21 | Toothbrushes, shaving brushes, hair brushes, nail brushes, eyelash brushes and other toilet brushes for use on the person, including such brushes constituting parts of appliances, Toothbrushes, including dental-plate brushes | 9603 | View 9603.21 → |
| 9603.29 | Toothbrushes, shaving brushes, hair brushes, nail brushes, eyelash brushes and other toilet brushes for use on the person, including such brushes constituting parts of appliances, Other | 9603 | View 9603.29 → |
| 9603.30 | Artists' brushes, writing brushes and similar brushes for the application of cosmetics | 9603 | View 9603.30 → |
| 9603.40 | Paint, distemper, varnish or similar brushes (other than brushes of subheading 9603.30); paint pads and rollers | 9603 | View 9603.40 → |
| 9603.50 | Other brushes constituting parts of machines, appliances or vehicles | 9603 | View 9603.50 → |
| 9603.90 | Other | 9603 | View 9603.90 → |
| 9604.00 | Hand sieves and hand riddles | 9604 | View 9604.00 → |
| 9605.00 | Travel sets for personal toilet, sewing or shoe or clothes cleaning (other than manicure and pedicure sets of heading 8214) | 9605 | View 9605.00 → |
| 9606.10 | Press-fasteners, snap-fasteners and press-studs and parts thereof | 9606 | View 9606.10 → |
| 9606.21 | Buttons, Of plastics, not covered with textile material | 9606 | View 9606.21 → |
| 9606.22 | Buttons, Of base metal, not covered with textile material | 9606 | View 9606.22 → |
EXPERT CLASSIFICATION PRO TIPS
Common Pitfalls When Classifying Chapter 96 Goods
- Always review WCO Section and Chapter Legal Notes before assigning 4-digit headings.
- Distinguish carefully between unprocessed raw materials and further prepared or processed articles.
- Verify Partner Government Agency (PGA) flags for agriculture, food, or chemical items.
- Cross-reference official CBP CROSS rulings for binding precedents on mixed or composite goods.
Official Primary Sources & Authority References
USITC HTS Chapter 96 Tariff ↗
United States International Trade Commission official Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
CBP CROSS Rulings ↗
Customs Rulings Online Search System for Chapter 96 binding classification precedents.
WCO HS Nomenclature ↗
World Customs Organization international 6-digit Harmonized System backbone standard.
U.S. Census Foreign Trade ↗
U.S. Census Bureau trade statistics and Schedule B concordance portal.
Chapter 96 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What commodities are covered under HS Chapter 96?
Chapter 96 (Chapter 96 Commodities) covers WCO Harmonized System 4-digit headings from 9601 upward, encompassing primary goods, raw materials, and manufactured articles within this nomenclature section.
How many 4-digit headings exist in HS Chapter 96?
Chapter 96 contains 20 official 4-digit WCO headings and 49 6-digit tariff subheadings.
What is the US general import duty range for Chapter 96 commodities?
Base customs duties under Chapter 96 range from 0.0% (Duty-Free) up to representative MFN rate limits depending on 10-digit HTS statistical suffix extensions.
Do Section 301 China tariffs apply to Chapter 96 imports?
Section 301 tariffs depend on specific 8-digit HTS subheadings. Importers must verify if their exact HTS code appears on USTR Lists 1 through 4A.
Are Partner Government Agency (PGA) permits required for Chapter 96?
PGA message-set flags (such as FDA, USDA APHIS, EPA, or CITES) apply conditionally depending on the commodity classification within Chapter 96.
How are products classified between adjacent headings in Chapter 96?
Classification follows WCO General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1 through 6, prioritizing specific heading terms over general descriptions.
Can Chapter 96 goods enter duty-free under USMCA or Free Trade Agreements?
Yes. Eligible goods originating in USMCA member states (US, Mexico, Canada) or FTA partners enter duty-free under SPI code P, KR, AU, or CL with a valid Certificate of Origin.
What is the Section 321 de minimis limit for Chapter 96 shipments?
Eligible commercial shipments valued at $800 USD or less imported by one person on one day may enter duty-free under 19 U.S.C. 1321.
What documents are required for formal entry of Chapter 96 goods?
Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading/Air Waybill, and entry summary CBP Form 7501 are mandatory for entries exceeding $2,500 USD.
How can an importer obtain a binding CBP ruling for Chapter 96?
Importers may submit an e-Ruling application under 19 CFR Part 177 to CBP National Commodity Specialist Division.