Frequently Asked Questions

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is the official U.S. import tariff schedule published by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). It classifies every imported product into approximately 13,000+ tariff lines and specifies the duty rate for each. The HTS is organized into 22 sections, 96 chapters, and thousands of headings based on the international Harmonized System (HS).

The General rate — also called the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate or Column 1 General rate — is the standard tariff applied to imports from countries that have Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status with the United States. This applies to the vast majority of U.S. trading partners.

Special rates are preferential duty rates that apply to imports from countries covered by free trade agreements (FTAs) or preference programs. The program codes in parentheses (A, AU, BH, CA, CL, CO, D, E, IL, JO, KR, MA, MX, OM, P, PA, PE, S, SG) indicate which programs grant a lower or free rate.

Column 2 rates are higher tariffs that apply to imports from countries that have not been granted Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status with the United States. Historically this applied to countries like Cuba and North Korea. These rates are generally much higher than standard MFN rates.

PlainTariff is an informational tool — not a binding tariff ruling. The exact duty for any shipment depends on the precise HTS classification, declared value, country of origin, and applicable programs. For official classification, consult a licensed customs broker or request a binding ruling from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The HTS Basic Edition may not reflect all additional tariffs imposed via executive action, including Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods or Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. These additional duties can significantly affect the effective rate. Always verify the current rate at hts.usitc.gov and consult CBP resources for additional tariff programs.

Duty rates can be ad valorem (a percentage of the customs value, e.g., '5%'), specific (a fixed amount per unit of measurement, e.g., '$1.50/kg'), compound (a combination of both), or free (no duty). Some items have tariff-rate quotas where a lower rate applies up to a set quantity.

PlainTariff uses the HTS 2026 Basic Edition. The HTS is revised annually by the USITC, with additional mid-year changes possible. Tariff rates can change frequently due to trade policy actions. Always verify current rates directly at hts.usitc.gov before making import decisions.