Chapter 98 HS Codes: Chapter 98 Commodities
CHAPTER DEFINITION & SCOPE
HS Chapter 98 of the WCO Harmonized System covers chapter 98 commodities. It groups 22 4-digit WCO headings and 57 6-digit subheadings under the official 2026 customs nomenclature [USITC HTS 2026].
Chapter
Ch 98
Headings
22 Headings
Subheadings
57 HS6
US Tariff Status
Active 2026
Chapter 98 4-Digit Headings Directory
| Heading | WCO Heading Description | Subheading Count | Directory Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heading 9801 | Products of the United States when returned after having been exported, or any other products when returned within 3 years after having been exported, without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process of manufacture or other means while abroad | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9801 → |
| Heading 9802 | Photographic films and dry plates manufactured in the United States (except motion-picture films to be used for commercial purposes) and exposed abroad, whether developed or not | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9802 → |
| Heading 9803 | Substantial containers and holders, if products of the United States (including shooks and staves of United States production when returned as boxes or barrels containing merchandise), or if of foreign production and previously imported and duty (if any) thereon paid, or if of a class specified by the Secretary of the Treasury as instruments of international traffic, repair components for containers of foreign production which are instruments of international traffic, and accessories and equipment for such containers, whether the accessories and equipment are imported with a container to be reexported separately or with another container, or imported separately to be reexported with a container | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9803 → |
| Heading 9804 | Articles imported by or for the account of any person arriving in the United States from a foreign country | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9804 → |
| Heading 9805 | The personal and household effects (with such limitation on the importation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe) of any person in the service of the United States who returns to the United States upon the termination of assignment to extended duty (as defined in regulations issued in connection with this provision) at a post or station outside the customs territory of the United States, or of returning members of his family who have resided with him at such post or station, or of any person evacuated to the United States under Government orders or instructions | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9805 → |
| Heading 9806 | Baggage and effects of the following persons who are aliens | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9806 → |
| Heading 9807 | Articles of metal (including medals, trophies and prizes), for bestowal on persons in the United States, as honorary distinctions, by foreign countries or citizens of foreign countries | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9807 → |
| Heading 9808 | Articles for the use of any agency of the United States Government | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9808 → |
| Heading 9809 | Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9809 → |
| Heading 9810 | Articles imported for the use of an institution established solely for religious purposes | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9810 → |
| Heading 9811 | Alcoholic beverage samples (each sample containing not more than 300 milliliters if a malt beverage, not more than 150 milliliters if a wine and not more than 100 milliliters if any other alcoholic beverage) to be used in the United States only for soliciting orders by persons importing alcoholic beverages in commercial quantities | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9811 → |
| Heading 9812 | Articles imported for exhibition by any institution or society established for the encouragement of agriculture, arts, education or science, or for such exhibition by any State or for a municipal corporation | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9812 → |
| Heading 9813 | Articles to be repaired, altered or processed (including processes which result in articles manufactured or produced in the United States) | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9813 → |
| Heading 9814 | Tea, tea waste and tea siftings and sweepings, all the foregoing to be used solely for manufacturing theine, caffeine or other chemical products whereby the identity and character of the original material is entirely destroyed or changed | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9814 → |
| Heading 9815 | Products of American fisheries (including fish, shellfish and other marine animals, spermaceti and marine animal oils), which have not been landed in a foreign country, or which, if so landed, have been landed solely for transshipment without change in condition | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9815 → |
| Heading 9816 | Articles for personal or household use, or as bona fide gifts, not imported for the account of another person, valued in the aggregate at not over $1,000 fair retail value in the country of acquisition, if the person claiming the benefit of subheading 9816.00.20 or 9816.00.40, or both, has not received the benefits thereof within the 30 days immediately preceding his arrival | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9816 → |
| Heading 9817 | Nets or sections or parts of nets | 11 subheadings | Browse Heading 9817 → |
| Heading 9818 | Equipments, or any part thereof, including boats, purchased for, or the repair parts or materials to be used, or the expenses of repairs made in a foreign country upon, a vessel described in U.S. note 1 to this subchapter | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9818 → |
| Heading 9819 | Articles imported from a designated beneficiary sub-Saharan African country enumerated in U.S. note 1 to this subchapter | 1 subheadings | Browse Heading 9819 → |
| Heading 9820 | Articles imported from a designated beneficiary Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership country enumerated in general note 17(a) to the tariff schedule | 7 subheadings | Browse Heading 9820 → |
| Heading 9822 | Goods eligible for temporary admission into the customs territory of the United States under the terms of U.S. note 1(b) to this subchapter | 9 subheadings | Browse Heading 9822 → |
| Heading 9823 | Goods entered under the provisions of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement under general note 11 to the tariff schedule | 12 subheadings | Browse Heading 9823 → |
Chapter 98 Subheading Sample & MFN Duty Rates
| HS Code | Subheading Description | Heading | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9801.00 | Products of the United States when returned after having been exported, or any other products when returned within 3 years after having been exported, without having been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process of manufacture or other means while abroad | 9801 | View 9801.00 → |
| 9802.00 | Photographic films and dry plates manufactured in the United States (except motion-picture films to be used for commercial purposes) and exposed abroad, whether developed or not | 9802 | View 9802.00 → |
| 9803.00 | Substantial containers and holders, if products of the United States (including shooks and staves of United States production when returned as boxes or barrels containing merchandise), or if of foreign production and previously imported and duty (if any) thereon paid, or if of a class specified by the Secretary of the Treasury as instruments of international traffic, repair components for containers of foreign production which are instruments of international traffic, and accessories and equipment for such containers, whether the accessories and equipment are imported with a container to be reexported separately or with another container, or imported separately to be reexported with a container | 9803 | View 9803.00 → |
| 9804.00 | Books, libraries, usual and reasonable furniture and similar household effects, if actually used abroad by him or by him and his family not less than one year, and not intended for any other person, or for sale | 9804 | View 9804.00 → |
| 9805.00 | The personal and household effects (with such limitation on the importation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe) of any person in the service of the United States who returns to the United States upon the termination of assignment to extended duty (as defined in regulations issued in connection with this provision) at a post or station outside the customs territory of the United States, or of returning members of his family who have resided with him at such post or station, or of any person evacuated to the United States under Government orders or instructions | 9805 | View 9805.00 → |
| 9806.00 | Baggage and effects of the following persons who are aliens, Upon the request of the Department of State, ambassadors, ministers, charge d'affaires, secretaries, counselors, attaches and other representatives, officers and employees of foreign governments, accredited to the United States or en route to or from other countries to which accredited, and their immediate families, suites and servants | 9806 | View 9806.00 → |
| 9807.00 | Articles of metal (including medals, trophies and prizes), for bestowal on persons in the United States, as honorary distinctions, by foreign countries or citizens of foreign countries | 9807 | View 9807.00 → |
| 9808.00 | Engravings, etchings, photographic prints, whether bound or unbound, recorded video tapes and exposed photographic films (including motion-picture films) whether or not developed; official government publications in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media | 9808 | View 9808.00 → |
| 9809.00 | Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries | 9809 | View 9809.00 → |
| 9810.00 | Articles imported for the use of an institution established solely for religious purposes, Drawings, engravings, etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, sound recordings, recorded video tapes and photographic and other prints, all the foregoing whether bound or unbound, and exposed photographic films (including motion-picture films) whether or not developed | 9810 | View 9810.00 → |
| 9811.00 | Alcoholic beverage samples (each sample containing not more than 300 milliliters if a malt beverage, not more than 150 milliliters if a wine and not more than 100 milliliters if any other alcoholic beverage) to be used in the United States only for soliciting orders by persons importing alcoholic beverages in commercial quantities | 9811 | View 9811.00 → |
| 9812.00 | Articles imported for exhibition by any institution or society established for the encouragement of agriculture, arts, education or science, or for such exhibition by any State or for a municipal corporation | 9812 | View 9812.00 → |
| 9813.00 | Articles to be repaired, altered or processed (including processes which result in articles manufactured or produced in the United States) | 9813 | View 9813.00 → |
| 9814.00 | Tea, tea waste and tea siftings and sweepings, all the foregoing to be used solely for manufacturing theine, caffeine or other chemical products whereby the identity and character of the original material is entirely destroyed or changed | 9814 | View 9814.00 → |
| 9815.00 | Products of American fisheries (including fish, shellfish and other marine animals, spermaceti and marine animal oils), which have not been landed in a foreign country, or which, if so landed, have been landed solely for transshipment without change in condition | 9815 | View 9815.00 → |
EXPERT CLASSIFICATION PRO TIPS
Common Pitfalls When Classifying Chapter 98 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 98 Tariff ↗
United States International Trade Commission official Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
CBP CROSS Rulings ↗
Customs Rulings Online Search System for Chapter 98 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 98 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What commodities are covered under HS Chapter 98?
Chapter 98 (Chapter 98 Commodities) covers WCO Harmonized System 4-digit headings from 9801 upward, encompassing primary goods, raw materials, and manufactured articles within this nomenclature section.
How many 4-digit headings exist in HS Chapter 98?
Chapter 98 contains 22 official 4-digit WCO headings and 57 6-digit tariff subheadings.
What is the US general import duty range for Chapter 98 commodities?
Base customs duties under Chapter 98 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 98 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 98?
PGA message-set flags (such as FDA, USDA APHIS, EPA, or CITES) apply conditionally depending on the commodity classification within Chapter 98.
How are products classified between adjacent headings in Chapter 98?
Classification follows WCO General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1 through 6, prioritizing specific heading terms over general descriptions.
Can Chapter 98 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 98 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 98 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 98?
Importers may submit an e-Ruling application under 19 CFR Part 177 to CBP National Commodity Specialist Division.