4909

Analysis

Heading 4909 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings. It has 2 tariff lines.

Every one of its 2 tariff lines is duty-free at the general rate, so classification within the heading affects statistics and Chapter 99 measures rather than the base duty.

Its lines are 4909.00.20 for printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing… (duty-free) and 4909.00.40 for printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing… (duty-free).

By Census's concordance, most of its statistical lines are made by Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111). Those are the NAICS industries a US producer of these goods would report under.

Its median rate of duty-free sits at the 50th percentile of the headings in chapter 49.

The heading text decides whether a product belongs here at all (General Rule of Interpretation 1); the subheadings and lines below it only apply once that is settled. Section and chapter notes can override the heading wording, so read them for borderline goods.