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HS Code Classification

How CargoLint uses AI to suggest Harmonized System codes for your trade documents.

What Are HS Codes?

The Harmonized System (HS) is an internationally standardized system for classifying traded products. HS codes are:

  • 6-digit minimum codes - Core product classification
  • Extended to 8-10 digits - Country-specific tariff schedules
  • Required for customs clearance - Mandatory for import/export
  • Determine tariff rates - Affect duty calculations and trade agreements
  • Standardized internationally - Used by ~200 countries

Example: Fresh apples = HS code 0808.30 (under Chapter 08 - Edible Fruit and Nuts).

How CargoLint Classifies HS Codes

CargoLint uses AI-powered recommendations to match line item descriptions from your trade documents to the appropriate HS codes. The model understands product descriptions across all four supported languages and recommends the most relevant codes.

The system works as follows:

  1. Extract line item descriptions from invoice, packing list, or certificate of origin
  2. Analyse each description using our multilingual AI model (supports English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Spanish)
  3. Recommend HS codes from 5,600+ WCO 6-digit subheadings, ranked by relevance
  4. Return top suggestions with confidence scores

Example Extraction

{
  "document_id": "doc_456",
  "line_item": {
    "description": "Stainless steel electric mixer",
    "hs_code_suggestions": [
      {
        "code": "8509.40",
        "description": "Food grinders and mixers",
        "confidence": 0.92
      },
      {
        "code": "8509.80",
        "description": "Other electric machines for food preparation",
        "confidence": 0.71
      },
      {
        "code": "7326.90",
        "description": "Articles of iron or steel, other",
        "confidence": 0.45
      }
    ]
  }
}

HS Code Search API

Search for HS codes by product description or keyword:

curl -X GET "https://api.cargolint.com/api/v1/hs-codes/search?q=electric%20mixer&top_k=10" \
  -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

The search supports multilingual queries - you can search in English, Chinese, or Spanish and get relevant results.

HS Code Versions

CargoLint maintains HS 2022 codes as the primary version, with fallback to HS 2017 for codes that only exist in the older version.

Confidence in HS Code Suggestions

HS code confidence scores determine how suggestions are handled:

  • >= 0.55 - Top suggestion is auto-selected for the line item
  • 0.25 - 0.54 - Suggestions are shown but require manual selection
  • < 0.25 - No suggestions returned; manual classification needed

HS Code Selector (UI)

In the web dashboard, you can use the HS Code Selector to:

  • Search for codes by description
  • Browse the hierarchical HS code tree (97 WCO chapters)
  • Select a code and apply it to a line item

Common Classification Challenges

Material Composition

A product’s material composition affects classification:

  • Cotton T-shirt - HS 6204.62 (Garments, cotton)
  • Polyester T-shirt - HS 6204.65 (Garments, synthetic fiber)

CargoLint needs material details to classify correctly.

Mixed Assemblies

Products combining multiple materials may classify under the component material:

  • Plastic phone case with metal stand - Could classify under plastic or metal depending on composition percentage
  • Recommend: Specify which material is >= 50%

Use vs. Material

Some products classify by intended use rather than material:

  • Stainless steel wire - Could be cutlery (HS 8215), wire (HS 7217), or fasteners (HS 7318)
  • Context matters: What is the wire intended for?

Best Practices

  • Provide complete product descriptions (material, size, use)
  • Use industry-standard terminology
  • Specify material composition percentages for mixed products
  • Review suggested codes before finalizing
  • Escalate borderline classifications to tariff experts
  • Document classification reasoning for audit purposes
Previous Confidence Scoring