Files — HTS 8203
Files, rasps, pliers (including cutting pliers), pincers, tweezers, metal cutting shears, pipe cutters, bolt cutters, perforating punches and similar handtools, and base metal parts thereof
Chapter 82 › Heading 8203
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 8203 is a broad product category for certain hand-operated tools made mainly of base metal. It groups together files and rasps, pliers and pincers, tweezers, metal-cutting shears, pipe cutters, bolt cutters, perforating punches, and similar handtools, along with parts made for those tools. The heading is about the tool’s function and design, not simply any product that contains metal.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, start by identifying the tool’s specific type and principal use. The subheadings then separate products by distinctions such as tool design, cutting or gripping function, whether the item is a complete tool or a part, and sometimes its material or construction. Read the full description at each level, including section and chapter notes, because similar-looking tools may classify differently. If no description clearly fits, a customs broker or classification specialist may be needed.
What to check
- Identify the tool’s exact function, such as filing, gripping, cutting, piercing, or pipe cutting, and record its common trade name.
- Confirm whether you are classifying a complete handtool, a replacement component, or a set; parts may have separate provisions.
- Check the tool’s construction and working material, including whether the relevant part is base metal, and compare that detail with the subheading wording.
- Review the complete 8-digit HTSUS descriptions and applicable legal notes rather than stopping at the 4-digit heading.
- Keep product specifications, photographs, catalogs, and supplier information that support the selected classification, and seek broker advice for borderline cases.
HTS heading 8203 summary
Files is a 4-digit product category containing 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 8203.10 | Files, rasps and similar tools |
| 8203.20 | Pliers (including cutting pliers), pincers, tweezers and similar tools, and parts thereof |
| 8203.40 | Pipe cutters, bolt cutters, perforating punches and similar tools, and parts thereof |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8203.30.00.00 👉 | Metal cutting shears and similar tools, and parts thereof | Free | — | 50% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8203?
Files, rasps, pliers (including cutting pliers), pincers, tweezers, metal cutting shears, pipe cutters, bolt cutters, perforating punches and similar handtools, and base metal parts thereof. 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.