Ferrous waste and scrap — HTS 7204
Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel
Chapter 72 › Heading 7204
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 7204 is a 4-digit product category for ferrous waste and scrap—material made mainly of iron or steel that is being recovered for recycling or melting—and for remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel. It generally covers discarded, defective, or leftover ferrous metal, rather than usable finished products made from iron or steel.
To choose an 8-digit HTS code, start with the applicable 6-digit subheading and then review the more specific statistical provisions. The breakdown commonly depends on the material or type, such as whether the goods are iron or steel, stainless or other alloy material, turnings or other scrap, or remelting scrap ingots. The goods’ physical form, composition, and condition must match the wording of the selected code.
What to check
- Describe the goods precisely, including their chemical composition, physical form, dimensions, and whether they are scrap, waste, or remelting ingots.
- Confirm whether the material is stainless steel, other alloy steel, or nonalloy iron or steel; obtain a mill certificate or laboratory analysis when needed.
- Check whether the scrap is in turnings, cuttings, bundled pieces, demolition material, or another form identified by the tariff provisions.
- Make sure the goods are genuinely intended and presented as waste, scrap, or remelting material rather than usable metal products or parts.
- Compare the current HTSUS heading, subheadings, legal notes, and statistical suffixes, and seek a customs broker or binding ruling when the classification is uncertain.
HTS heading 7204 summary
Ferrous waste and scrap 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7204.10.00.00 👉 | Waste and scrap of cast iron | Free | — | 74¢/t |
| 7204.30.00.00 👉 | Waste and scrap of tinned iron or steel | Free | — | Free |
| 7204.50.00.00 👉 | Remelting scrap ingots | Free | — | 74¢/t |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 7204?
Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel. 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.