Live horses — HTS 0101
Live horses, asses, mules and hinnies
Chapter 01 › Heading 0101
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 0101 is a four-digit product category for live horses, asses, mules, and hinnies. It groups these live equine animals together at a broad level; it is not a category for meat, hides, tack, or other products made from them. The heading may cover different animal types and uses, such as horses versus asses or mules, with further distinctions made below the heading.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS code, start with the animal’s identity and the wording of the available subheadings. Unlike many merchandise categories, classification here is generally based on the live animal’s type and legally relevant characteristics—not on material. The lower-level code may also depend on details such as whether an animal qualifies for a specifically described breeding or other classification. Read the complete subheading, any chapter or section notes, and the statistical suffix; do not assume that the four-digit heading alone determines the import treatment.
What to check
- Confirm that the shipment contains live animals and that each animal belongs in the equine types named by heading 0101.
- Identify the animal precisely: horse, ass, mule, or hinny, and document any facts needed by the relevant subheading.
- Check whether the code distinguishes a special status or use, such as a legally defined breeding classification, and retain supporting records.
- Read the full eight-digit HTSUS description, including chapter notes and statistical suffixes; do not choose a code based only on a product title.
- If the animal’s characteristics do not clearly match one subheading, ask a customs broker or request an official classification ruling before entry.
HTS heading 0101 summary
Live horses is a 4-digit product category containing 3 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0101.90 | Other |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0101.21.00 👉 | Purebred breeding animals | Free | — | Free |
| 0101.29.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 20% |
| 0101.30.00.00 👉 | Asses | 6.8% | Free | 15% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 0101?
Live horses, asses, mules and hinnies. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.