Analysis
HTS 7229.20.00 covers of silico-manganese steel under heading 7229 (wire of other alloy steel). US Customs collects import statistics for it under 3 ten-digit suffixes, reported in kilograms.
Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 33% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 33% duty.
The normal trade relations rate here is zero, shared by about 92% of the 262 tariff lines in chapter 72, a useful check when a neighbouring dutiable line is a candidate. Chapter 99 measures such as Section 301 or 232 can still apply on top, depending on where the goods come from.
The other lines in the same group are 7229.90.05 (of high-speed steel, duty-free), 7229.90.10 (other: flat wire, duty-free), 7229.90.50 (other: round wire, duty-free) and 7229.90.90 (other: other wire, duty-free).
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 331222 (Steel Wire Drawing), an industry of 198 US establishments employing 14,260 people. That concordance is how imports of this line are compared with US output.
All 4 neighbouring lines carry the same duty-free rate, so a borderline choice between them changes the statistics reported, not the duty paid.
Statistical suffixes
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 7229.90.05 | Of high-speed steel | Free |
| 7229.90.10 | Other: flat wire | Free |
| 7229.90.50 | Other: round wire | Free |
| 7229.90.90 | Other: other wire | Free |