Analysis
HTS 8448.51.10 covers needles for knitting machines: latch needles under heading 8448 (auxiliary machinery for use with machines of heading 8444, 8445, 8446 or 8447 (for…).
There is no general-rate duty on this line, which puts it with roughly 61% of the 823 tariff lines in chapter 84 that are also free. 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 8448.51.20 (spring-beard needles, duty-free), 8448.51.30 (needles for knitting machines: other, duty-free) and 8448.51.50 (sinkers, needles and other articles used in forming…, duty-free).
Census statistics map these goods to NAICS 33324 (Industrial Machinery Manufacturing), an industry of 2,836 US establishments employing 111,497 people, the industry a domestic producer of these goods reports under.
All 3 neighbouring lines carry the same duty-free rate, so a borderline choice between them changes the statistics reported, not the duty paid.
The general rate of Free has not changed in any edition of the schedule since Jan 2023.
Neighbouring lines
| Line | Description | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8448.51.20 | Spring-beard needles | Free |
| 8448.51.30 | Needles for knitting machines: other | Free |
| 8448.51.50 | Sinkers, needles and other articles used in forming stitches: other | Free |