Analysis
HTS 8203.30.00 covers metal cutting shears and similar tools, and parts thereof under heading 8203 (files, rasps, pliers (including cutting pliers), pincers, tweezers, metal cutting shears…).
Within this group the rate runs from duty-free to 12%. Compared with 8203.20.40 (other: slip joint pliers), which pays 12%, a misclassification either way moves the duty by 12 percentage points.
Goods from countries without normal trade relations pay the column 2 rate of 50% instead of nothing, so origin decides between free entry and a 50% duty.
The normal trade relations rate here is zero, shared by about 41% of the 95 tariff lines in chapter 82, a useful check when a neighbouring dutiable line is a candidate. Free here means free of the base duty only: origin-specific Chapter 99 duties such as Section 301 can still be owed.
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 332216 (Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing), an industry of 775 US establishments employing 25,058 people. That concordance is how imports of this line are compared with US output.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8203.10.30 | Not over 11 cm in length | Free |
| 8203.10.60 | Over 11 cm but not over 17 cm in length | Free |
| 8203.10.90 | Over 17 cm in length | Free |
| 8203.20.20 | Pliers (including cutting pliers), pincers, tweezers and similar tools, and parts thereof: tweezers | 4% |
| 8203.20.40 | Other: slip joint pliers | 12% |
| 8203.20.60 | Other: other (except parts) | 12¢/doz. + 5.5% |
| 8203.20.80 | Other: parts | 4.5% |
| 8203.40.30 | With cutting part containing by weight over 0.2 percent of chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten or over 0.1 percent of vanadium | 6% |
| 8203.40.60 | Pipe cutters, bolt cutters, perforating punches and similar tools, and parts thereof: other (including parts) | 3.3% |