In the mid-1980's, the nations of the world began a series
of meetings that would become known as the
Uruguay Round.
The subject of these meetings was
international trade and
likely the most important and far-reaching action taken
by the nations was the establishment of the
Harmonized
Tariff Schedule.
Up until this point, the nations of the world had each
had their own coding system to track the import and export
of goods between their country and others. Issues continually
arose between nations as to how items were to be classified,
causing for friction between nations and difficulty in
allowing for the free flow of trade. To end this problem,
the nations each agreed to adopt a standard way of categorizing
goods to allow for more ease for importers and exporters
to trade their goods.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule is the system the nations
agreed to. All goods are classified by one of 97 chapters.
These chapters are designated by a two-digit number and
represent very broad categories. The chapters become more
complex the higher the number. For instance, chapter 02
represents Meat, where chapter 94 represents Machinery.
Under each of these chapters, additional breakouts are given,
with greater detail the more digits that are given. A
four digit number (0101 - Horses) is more detailed than
a 2-digti number (01 - Live Animals) and a six-digit number
is more detailed still (010111 - Pure Breeding Horses).
The standardization extends to six digits of detail though
most countries break their tariff schedules down even farther
by adding additional digits. Beyond six digits, however, the
codes are not standardized and are dependent upon each
countries policies. The number of digits is not even
uniform, with the United States extending theirs to 10 digits,
Japan to 9 digits, and the members of the European Union to 8.
A description of the two digit chapters is given below:
01 LIVE ANIMALS
02 MEAT
03 FISH AND SEAFOOD
04 DAIRY,EGGS,HONEY,ETC
05 OTHER OF ANIMAL ORIGIN
06 LIVE TREES AND PLANTS
07 VEGETABLES
08 EDIBLE FRUIT AND NUTS
09 SPICES,COFFEE AND TEA
10 CEREALS
11 MILLING;MALT;STARCH
12 MISC GRAIN,SEED,FRUIT
13 LAC;VEGETABL SAP,EXTRCT
14 OTHER VEGETABLE
15 FATS AND OILS
16 PREPARED MEAT,FISH,ETC
17 SUGARS
18 COCOA
19 BAKING RELATED
20 PRESERVED FOOD
21 MISCELLANEOUS FOOD
22 BEVERAGES
23 FOOD WASTE; ANIMAL FEED
24 TOBACCO
25 SALT;SULFUR;EARTH,STONE
26 ORES,SLAG,ASH
27 MINERAL FUEL, OIL ETC
28 INORG CHEM;RARE ERTH MT
29 ORGANIC CHEMICALS
30 PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
31 FERTILIZERS
32 TANNING,DYE,PAINT,PUTTY
33 PERFUMERY,COSMETIC,ETC
34 SOAP,WAX,ET;DENTAL PREP
35 ALBUMINS;MOD STRCH;GLUE
36 EXPLOSIVES
37 PHOTOGRAPHIC/CINEMATOGR
38 MISC. CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
39 PLASTIC
40 RUBBER
41 HIDES AND SKINS
42 LEATHR ART;SADDLRY;BAGS
43 FURSKIN+ARTIFICIAL FUR
44 WOOD
45 CORK
46 STRAW,ESPARTO
47 WOODPULP, ETC.
48 PAPER,PAPERBOARD
49 BOOK+NEWSPAPR;MANUSCRPT
50 SILK;SILK YARN,FABRIC
51 ANIMAL HAIR+YARN,FABRC
52 COTTON+YARN,FABRIC
53 OTHER VEG TEXTILE FIBER
54 MANMADE FILAMENT,FABRIC
55 MANMADE STAPLE FIBERS
56 WADDING,FELT,TWINE,ROPE
57 TEXTILE FLOOR COVERINGS
58 SPCL WOVEN FABRIC,ETC
59 IMPREGNATD TEXT FABRICS
60 KNIT,CROCHETED FABRICS
61 KNIT APPAREL
62 WOVEN APPAREL
63 MISC TEXTILE ARTICLES
64 FOOTWEAR
65 HEADGEAR
66 UMBRELLA,WLK-STICKS,ETC
67 ARTIF FLOWERS,FEATHERS
68 STONE,PLASTR,CEMENT,ETC
69 CERAMIC PRODUCTS
70 GLASS AND GLASSWARE
71 PRECIOUS STONES,METALS
72 IRON AND STEEL
73 IRON/STEEL PRODUCTS
74 COPPER+ARTICLES THEREOF
75 NICKEL+ARTICLES THEREOF
76 ALUMINUM
78 LEAD
79 ZINC+ARTICLES THEREOF
80 TIN + ARTICLES THEREOF
81 OTHER BASE METALS, ETC.
82 TOOL,CUTLRY, OF BASE MTLS
83 MISC ART OF BASE METAL
84 MACHINERY
85 ELECTRICAL MACHINERY
86 RAILWAY;TRF SIGN EQ
87 VEHICLES, NOT RAILWAY
88 AIRCRAFT,SPACECRAFT
89 SHIPS AND BOATS
90 OPTIC,NT 8544;MED INSTR
91 CLOCKS AND WATCHES
92 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
93 ARMS AND AMMUNITION
94 FURNITURE AND BEDDING
95 TOYS AND SPORTS EQUIPMT
96 MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACT
97 ART AND ANTIQUES