Worked ivory — HTS 9601
Worked ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn, antlers, coral, mother-of-pearl and other animal carving material, and articles of these materials (including articles obtained by molding)
Chapter 96 › Heading 9601
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 9601 is a broad product category for worked animal-based carving materials and items made from them. It covers materials such as ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn, antlers, coral, and mother-of-pearl, plus other animal carving materials, when they have been worked or made into articles. “Worked” generally means shaped, cut, polished, molded, or otherwise processed beyond a raw material. The heading can include finished goods and molded articles, not just craft material.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the product’s principal material and what the item is. The 4-digit heading is divided into more specific subheadings, commonly distinguishing the material—such as bone, horn, coral, or mother-of-pearl—or the type of article. Review the full tariff description, legal notes, and any applicable subheading structure rather than choosing a code from a keyword alone. Classification may require customs-broker or other professional judgment, especially for composite products or regulated wildlife materials.
What to check
- Identify the actual material, including its biological source, and keep supplier specifications, photographs, and composition records.
- Determine whether the item is raw, merely cut or polished, molded, or a finished article; compare that condition with the subheading descriptions.
- Check whether the product is made from one material or combines several materials, and determine which material or component gives it its essential character when required.
- Read the complete HTSUS heading, subheadings, section and chapter notes, and relevant Customs rulings before selecting the 8-digit code.
- Confirm separate wildlife, conservation, marking, and import requirements for materials such as ivory, coral, tortoise-shell, or other protected animal products; ask a qualified broker when uncertain.
HTS heading 9601 summary
Worked ivory 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 |
|---|---|
| 9601.90 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9601.10.00.00 👉 | Worked ivory and articles of ivory | 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 9601?
Worked ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn, antlers, coral, mother-of-pearl and other animal carving material, and articles of these materials (including articles obtained by molding). 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.