Goods and services traded among countries are classified with one of two universal coding schemes: the Harmonized System (HS) or the SITC (Standard International Trade Classification).
Retrieving trade statistics or determining tariff rates requires using one of these standard coding systems to identify products and industries.
How Do the Codes Work
Codes represent products in a standardized way. Two digit codes represent broad general product categories. Additional digits are added for detailed product classes. For example, in the Harmonized System (HS),
04.06 is the class number for Cheese
0406.20 is the class number for Grated or powdered cheese
Glossary of International Trade by How to use the Harmonized System to find a HS code for your product.
A five minute video from the U.S. International Trade Administration.
The United States uses a modified form of the Harmonized System (HS) as the basis for its classification of imports and exports. The U. S. adds additional digits to the 6-digit HS code to identify products unique to the U.S. markets.
