Safety fuses — HTS 3603
Safety fuses; detonating cords; percussion or detonating caps; igniters; electric detonators
Chapter 36 › Heading 3603
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 3603 is a broad product category for certain ignition and explosive-initiation articles. It groups safety fuses, detonating cords, percussion or detonating caps, igniters, and electric detonators—products designed to transmit ignition or initiate a detonation, rather than ordinary electrical wiring or general-purpose ignition products.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first identify the product’s function and physical form, then follow the heading’s subheadings and statistical breakouts. The distinctions commonly depend on the article’s type—such as fuse, cord, cap, igniter, or electric detonator—and on its construction or operating method. Confirm the current tariff text, legal notes, and any applicable classification rulings; a customs broker or other qualified classification professional may be needed for borderline products.
What to check
- Identify the product’s primary function: transmitting fire, initiating detonation, igniting another material, or operating as an electric detonator.
- Record the product type, construction, activation method, and whether it is assembled with electrical components or other initiating materials.
- Read the complete 8-digit HTSUS descriptions under heading 3603, including subordinate notes and statistical suffixes; do not stop at the 4-digit heading.
- Compare the product’s technical specifications, drawings, safety documentation, and packaging with the tariff wording, and keep those records to support the classification.
- Check current official HTSUS data and relevant customs rulings, and ask a customs broker or classification specialist when the product could fit more than one breakout.
HTS heading 3603 summary
Safety fuses is a 4-digit product category containing 6 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3603.10.00.00 👉 | Safety fuses | 3% | Free | 8.3% |
| 3603.20.00.00 👉 | Detonating cords | 3% | Free | 8.3% |
| 3603.30.00.00 👉 | Percussion caps | 4.2% | Free | 30% |
| 3603.40.00.00 👉 | Detonating caps | 0.2% | Free | 0.3% |
| 3603.50.00.00 👉 | Igniters | 0.2% | Free | 0.3% |
| 3603.60.00.00 👉 | Electric detonators | 0.2% | Free | 0.3% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3603?
Safety fuses; detonating cords; percussion or detonating caps; igniters; electric detonators. 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.