Commodity Codes & HS Codes

[Mr Pointy]

Is there anyone experienced with Commodity Codes and HS Codes who could give me some pointers.

My sister buys & sells various fabric items, mainly on ebay & has become quite successful at it. She has started to send items abroad & is struggling with the thorny subject of Commodity Codes. As an example, lets say she is sending a woven cotton tablecloth that is 40 years old.

First question: is there a different code for a second hand item rather than a new one? It's not an antique, although I guess you might call it vintage. I can't find any reference to a code for a used item other than bales of rags.

Second question: are Commodity codes & HS codes different? For instance I think the CC for the tablecloth would be 63.02.51.3500 (from the US Census Bureau website) or 6302.5100.90 from the UK.gov site https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commoditie... but the HS code looks like it's 6302.51.20 https://www.hs-codes.com/?c=63025120-plain-woven-t...

Are CC & HS codes the same & I've not compared quite the same item?

[Trevatanus]

Mr Pointy said:

Is there anyone experienced with Commodity Codes and HS Codes who could give me some pointers.

My sister buys & sells various fabric items, mainly on ebay & has become quite successful at it. She has started to send items abroad & is struggling with the thorny subject of Commodity Codes. As an example, lets say she is sending a woven cotton tablecloth that is 40 years old.

First question: is there a different code for a second hand item rather than a new one? It's not an antique, although I guess you might call it vintage. I can't find any reference to a code for a used item other than bales of rags.

Second question: are Commodity codes & HS codes different? For instance I think the CC for the tablecloth would be 63.02.51.3500 (from the US Census Bureau website) or 6302.5100.90 from the UK.gov site https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commoditie... but the HS code looks like it's 6302.51.20 https://www.hs-codes.com/?c=63025120-plain-woven-t...

Are CC & HS codes the same & I've not compared quite the same item?

I used to work around Commodity Codes many years, so things MIGHT Have changed, but it used to be that the commodity code would not change based on this but the CPC (Customs Procedure Code) may change, as you are not asking about procedure codes, I am guessing that this is not relevant to you. I still have contacts in that business though, so if you have specific questions, I may be able to help.

[ToastMan76]

Mr Pointy said:

Is there anyone experienced with Commodity Codes and HS Codes who could give me some pointers.

My sister buys & sells various fabric items, mainly on ebay & has become quite successful at it. She has started to send items abroad & is struggling with the thorny subject of Commodity Codes. As an example, lets say she is sending a woven cotton tablecloth that is 40 years old.

First question: is there a different code for a second hand item rather than a new one? It's not an antique, although I guess you might call it vintage. I can't find any reference to a code for a used item other than bales of rags.

Second question: are Commodity codes & HS codes different? For instance I think the CC for the tablecloth would be 63.02.51.3500 (from the US Census Bureau website) or 6302.5100.90 from the UK.gov site https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commoditie... but the HS code looks like it's 6302.51.20 https://www.hs-codes.com/?c=63025120-plain-woven-t...

Are CC & HS codes the same & I've not compared quite the same item?

HS code and Commodity code are the same, but vary slightly by country. HS is Harmonised System, so the first 6 digits are the same everywhere. In a commodity code, you use these 6 digits, then further digits depending on how deep the classification goes for that country. If you are importing into the UK you can use the trade tariff lookup tool, or you can use the tariff tool of whichever country you are importing to.

In answer to your ‘second hand’ question, the only second hand CC I know is worn clothes/textiles (and its worn as in worn down not worn as clothes) everything else classes ‘as new’.