PlainTariff

HTS Section XV

Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal

Section XV groups 12 HTS chapters covering 3,042 tariff classifications, averaging about 2.3% general (MFN) duty, peaking in Chapter 76 at 3.7%.

2.3%
avg chapter duty
12
HTS chapters
3,042
tariff classifications
3.7%
peak (Ch 76)

According to the U.S. International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026 Basic Edition, PlainTariff indexes 13,855 Column 1 general-rate tariff lines across 96 chapters as of August 2026. See our methodology for how rates are parsed and when the USITC vintage updates.

Section at a glance

According to PlainTariff's dutiable-only average MFN rates (USITC HTS 2026 Basic Edition), Section XV ranks #18 of 20 among sections with a measurable dutiable average (highest average = #1). The 12 chapters here average about 2.3% general (MFN) duty across 3,042 classifications.

#18 of 20
among sections by dutiable avg
2.3%
avg chapter duty
12
HTS chapters
3,042
tariff classifications

Section averages orient only; duty is set at the individual tariff-line level (USITC HTS 2026 Basic Edition).

A large classification book

With 3,042 classifications across 12 chapters, Section XV is a broad navigation problem before it is a rate comparison. Use the inventory position to choose a chapter, then narrow to a heading.

Move from section to chapter to heading; the section average is only orientation.

Catalog
3,042
classifications
Route
12 chapters
before the heading

HTS section dispatch

SEC-XV · Section XV

RATE-LIGHT · RANK-MID · BOOK-DENSE · CH-12 · PEAK-MILD · PHOTO-FINISH

  • RATE-LIGHT

    4.0% avg MFN

  • RANK-MID

    #18 of 20

  • BOOK-DENSE

    3,042 lines

  • CH-12

    12 chapters

  • PEAK-MILD

    Peak 15.8%

  • PHOTO-FINISH

    ≈ Sec XIX

Nearest avg-rate peer: Section XIX (-0.3 pts)

Dutiable MFN neighbourhood around Section XV

Lowest/highest poles plus sections nearest this sheet on dutiable-only average (USITC HTS 2026)

Sec XVI · lowest avg3.6%Sec XIX · near3.7%Sec XV · this section4%Sec XVIII · near4.6%Sec V · near4.7%Sec XII · highest avg15%

Source: USITC HTS 2026 As of 2026

Sec XVI · lowest avgSec XIX · nearSec XV · this sectionSec XVIII · nearSec V · nearSec XII · highest avg

Section XV vs all HTS sections by classification count

Where this section's tariff-line inventory sits among all 22 HTS sections (schedule breadth, not a virtue ranking)

3,042 5th of 22 higher than 17 of 22 sections

Sections banded by USITC HTS classification count

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more sections. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2026 Basic Edition · 2026-05-15

MFN rate bands in Section XV

Exclusive bands across all 996 tariff lines in this section (USITC HTS 2026). Rate complex covers non-ad-valorem or unparsed general rates, not a restatement of the chapter-average chart below.

Average duty rate by chapter, Section XV

Mean general (MFN) rate across each chapter's tariff lines

Ch 720.3%Ch 731.1%Ch 742.1%Ch 752.2%Ch 763.7%Ch 782%Ch 792.6%Ch 801.9%Ch 813.4%Ch 823.7%Ch 833%

Source: USITC HTS 2026 As of 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HTS Section XV cover? ▼
HTS Section XV covers Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal. It contains 12 chapters with a total of 3,042 individual tariff classifications.
How many chapters are in Section XV? ▼
Section XV contains 12 chapters. Each chapter groups related products with their own headings, subheadings, and tariff lines specifying duty rates.
What is the quickest way to search a large HTS section? ▼
Use the chapter table to narrow the product family first, then open a heading and its tariff lines. The section inventory describes the size of the search space; it does not classify a product by itself.
Where does Section XV sit among other HTS sections on PlainTariff? ▼
According to PlainTariff's dutiable-only average MFN rates (USITC HTS 2026 Basic Edition), Section XV ranks #18 of 20 among sections with a measurable dutiable average (highest average = #1). See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How is the Harmonized Tariff Schedule organized? ▼
The HTS is organized into 22 Sections (Roman numerals I–XXII), which contain 99 Chapters. Each Chapter has Headings (4-digit), Subheadings (6-digit), and Tariff Lines (8-10 digit) with specific duty rates. Sections group related product categories together.
Where can I find the duty rate for a specific product? ▼
Click on a chapter in the table above to see all its tariff lines. Each tariff line links to a detail page with the General (MFN), Special (FTA), and Column 2 duty rates. For complex classifications, consult a licensed customs broker.

Nationwide HTS sections with similar tariff profiles

Two peer sets for Section XV, each excluding this section (the chapter table above stays the within-section path).

Similar dutiable average rate

Nearest other sections by dutiable-only MFN average (2.3% here).

Sec XVI 3.6% Sec XIX 3.7% Sec XVIII 4.6% Sec V 4.7% Sec VII 4.8% Sec VI 5.0%

Similar HTS line inventory

Nearest other sections by tariff-line count (3,042 here).

Sec VI 3,493 lines Sec IV 2,012 lines Sec XVI 4,225 lines Sec II 1,766 lines Sec I 1,669 lines Sec XVIII 1,083 lines

Next steps

Drill from this section down to the exact rate for your product.

The section average is a rough guide; actual duty depends on the precise HTS classification and country of origin.

Related sections

Section XIISection XVISection XIXSection XVIII | All sections | Highest tariffs

Sources: U.S. International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule (2026 Basic Edition) and FAO FAOSTAT Trade: Crops and Livestock. See our methodology for how figures are computed.

Every figure on PlainTariff is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.