Machine tools for working any material by removal of — HTS 8456
Machine tools for working any material by removal of material, by laser or other light or photon beam, ultrasonic, electro-discharge, electro-chemical, electron-beam, ionic-beam or plasma arc processes; water-jet cutting machines
Chapter 84 › Heading 8456
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 8456 is a broad product category for machine tools that remove material through specialized processes rather than ordinary cutting with a conventional blade. It covers equipment using lasers or other light or photon beams, ultrasonic energy, electrical discharge, electro-chemical action, electron or ion beams, plasma arcs, and water jets. The machine may be designed to work on different materials, but the process and machine’s principal function are central to classification.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first confirm that the imported item is a complete machine tool—or a qualifying machine unit—whose primary operation fits heading 8456. Then review the more specific subheadings and statistical provisions, which commonly distinguish the process used and, where provided, the material worked or machine type. Product literature, technical specifications, operating principles, and the machine as imported are important. If the description does not clearly match one provision, a customs broker or binding ruling request may be appropriate.
What to check
- Identify the material-removal process: laser/light beam, ultrasonic, electro-discharge, electro-chemical, electron beam, ion beam, plasma arc, or water jet.
- Confirm the machine’s principal function and whether it is imported complete, as a machine unit, or only as a part or accessory; do not assume every related component belongs in heading 8456.
- Read the 8-digit subheadings and statistical descriptions for distinctions based on machine type, process, or material worked.
- Use the commercial invoice, model number, manufacturer specifications, manuals, and process diagrams to support the classification.
- Check the current HTSUS and obtain broker or customs advice when the machine combines processes, has multiple functions, or its principal use is unclear.
HTS heading 8456 summary
Machine tools for working any material by removal of 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 |
|---|---|
| 8456.11 | Operated by laser |
| 8456.12 | Operated by other light or photon beam processes |
| 8456.20 | Operated by ultrasonic processes |
| 8456.30 | Operated by electro-discharge processes |
| 8456.40 | Operated by plasma arc process |
| 8456.90 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8456.50.00.00 👉 | Water-jet cutting machines | 2.5% | Free | 35% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8456?
Machine tools for working any material by removal of material, by laser or other light or photon beam, ultrasonic, electro-discharge, electro-chemical, electron-beam, ionic-beam or plasma arc processes; water-jet cutting machines. 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.