BONUS: Why You Need HS & HTS Codes When Importing Products

2023-02-15

In this episode... Sofeast's head of Supply Chain Management, Kate, joins Adrian in this short bonus podcast with a logistics focus to explain what HS and HTS codes are, and why they're so important for importers who are shipping their products from where they're manufactured to where they're going to be sold. These codes are added to your customs declaration and classify what your product is. Different product codes will attract different levels of import duties, taxes, and tariffs, so selecting the right code is critical (and more than one might be appropriate for your product)! Your product classification may also influence the...

In this episode...

Sofeast's head of Supply Chain Management, Kate, joins Adrian in this short bonus podcast with a logistics focus to explain what HS and HTS codes are, and why they're so important for importers who are shipping their products from where they're manufactured to where they're going to be sold.

These codes are added to your customs declaration and classify what your product is. Different product codes will attract different levels of import duties, taxes, and tariffs, so selecting the right code is critical (and more than one might be appropriate for your product)! Your product classification may also influence the materials, components, and packaging you use, so that's also something to be aware of.

Show Sections

00:00 - Greetings.

01:11 - What are HS and HTS codes?

02:53 - How to select appropriate codes for your product/s?

03:33 - How the US/China trade war has affected costs for importers from China and why being aware of potential duties for your product is necessary before you ship.

06:319 - An example of where researching a better HTS code saved an American importer a lot of money.

08:59 - Kate's advice on getting the best code for your needs.