HS Code for Apparel: Procedure of Export and Import

Apparel is one of the primary needs for humans, equal to a house and food. Due to the importance, the apparel is produced daily to fulfill human needs, either for daily activities or special occasions. Some countries make apparel as their key commodities and export them to other countries. Therefore, the understanding of the export and import procedures, including the HS code for apparel, is important. This article will give you a grasp of the apparel, the meaning HS code for apparel, and how importance of using the right HS code for apparel. 

What is the actual meaning of apparel? 

For those who are not familiar with the apparel, you might be thinking that apparel is the same meaning with clothing. However, the apparel is slightly different than the terms of clothing. The word apparel is derived from the French word, appareiller, which has the meaning to suit or to equip in English. Therefore, apparel has a broad meaning of anything that can be worn by humans. The apparel includes clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and others. 

However, in the modern era, the word apparel has a similar meaning to clothing, garments, outfit, attire, and others. The apparel is also used in formal terms of clothing and is mostly used for commercial purposes. The fashion industry most likely used the word apparel to describe the character of their clothing products, such as sports apparel, casual apparel, luxury apparel, or others. 

Functions of Apparel

Due to the evolution of human civilization, the function of apparel has also evolved along the way from only covering and protecting the human body to having many kinds of meanings. Apparel turns into the symbol of identity and communication in our social life. This is the function of apparel in our lives. 

1. Protection 

No doubt, the protection of the human body is the primary function of apparel. This is the reason why apparel is made in the first place. The apparel can be used to shield the human body from the harsh environment, including heat, cold, rain, penetration of sunlight, etc.

2. Modesty 

The function of apparel has evolved from only protecting the body to a form of modesty in reflection of social life. Therefore, covering some part of the body becomes a necessity to promote the dignity and form of respect to others, especially in public places. 

3. Expression 

The evolution of the function of apparel turns into an expression to communicate and show their fashion style. This function makes the apparel differentiate by the choice and the character of humans based on gender, age, occupation, etc. 

4. Cultural identity 

Due to the segmentation of apparel, some groups of people based on culture and race, or religion, choose their own clothing character. All of the people around the world have their traditional clothing as a symbol of their culture. For example, Japanese people have a kimono, and muslim women wear a hijab. 

5. Status of the economy

The apparel comes to symbolize their economic status and their success in life; some people wear branded clothing or other apparel products. This has become a symbol of affluence and the prestige level of an individual or a group of people. 

What is the HS code for apparel? 

Due to the necessity of apparel products and the growing demands around the world, the apparel industry needs to know about the export procedures of its products. One of the procedures is the inclusion of the HS code or Harmonized Standard (HS) code for apparel. The HS code for apparel is essential to identify the tariff rates, quota, taxes, and other import regulations depending on the recipient country.  

HS code for apparel is not only one chapter, but there are various HS code chapters for apparel, including textiles or garment products that differentiate by their type of material, and others. In order to understand the HS code for apparel, here is the list of the HS code chapters of apparel, such as products of clothing made of cotton, shoes, or other materials. 

• Chapter 50-60: HS code chapter for textiles and textile articles made from various materials, including cotton, wool, animal hair, etc. 
• Chapter 61-62: HS code for apparel and clothing accessories. 
• Chapter 63: HS code for other made-up textile articles, such as blankets, sacks, and bags, other textiles. 
• Chapter 64: HS code for footwear, gaiters, and similar articles. 

After the chapter, there are 2-digit heading codes that specify the usage of the products. Then, it is followed by 2-digit subheading codes based on the international subheading to identify the products. This is an example of the HS code for a denim jeans for men made of cotton, which is 6203.42. Meanwhile, the HS code for denim jeans for men or boys made other than cotton is 6203.49. The two HS codes for denim jeans are quite similar and only differ in the last 2-digit code number. 

The other examples are the different HS codes for clothes or apparel based on the destination countries. In Japan, the HS code for a jacket made out of wool or animal hair is 6203.11.100. Whereas the HS code for a jacket made from wool or animal hair in the United States is 6203.11.30. The last 2 and 3-digit code number is different because it is the specific subheading to differentiate the recipient country. This is the breakdown of the HS code for apparel in Japan and the United States: 

• HS code for wool jacket in Japan: 
  • 62: Chapter for apparel products
  • 03: Heading for the function of products
  • 11: Subheading for wool jacket
  • 100: wool jacket made out of fur in Japan
• HS code for wool jacket in the United States: 
  • 62: Chapter for apparel products
  • 03: Heading for the function of products
  • 11: Subheading for wool jacket
  • 30: Subheading for other, including wool jackets in the United States

Challenges and difficulties in the classification of the HS code for apparel

In order to classify the HS code for apparel is quite challenging. We need to be careful to identify and analyze the material of the products before deciding that the HS code matches your product. You need to ensure that the HS code is correct to avoid the potential loss due to the incorrect HS code. Here are the difficulties in classifying the HS code for apparel and textiles. 

1. Complexity of material products

Apparel or textiles are more likely to have two or more different materials blended into one product. Therefore, it makes the process of classifying apparel products is often difficult to find the proper HS code. 

2. Different in the intention of usage

The apparel or clothing products have a different type of usage. The usage has become one of the determinants to find the right HS code. However, this is quite difficult because the usage intention is sometimes quite similar and interchangeable.  

3. A complex of processing apparel products

Some apparel products are processed or made by a different method. This has also become one of the determinants of the HS code. Sometimes it uses two different kinds of methods to make one item. 

4. Changes in HS codes based on innovations

The apparel or textile industry is quite dynamic and rapidly changes from time to time to meet the demand. Therefore, the classification of new apparel products is not sufficient with the category from the last update HS code. 

How to find the right HS code for apparel

Finding the right HS code for apparel is quite difficult and needs extra attention to detail. However, you can use HS Code Match to navigate the complexities of finding the HS code for your products. These are the steps of finding the HS code for apparel on HS Code Match. 

• Step 1: Open the HS Code Match on your browser and proceed with the search by selecting your product name and the country of origin and destination. For example, looking for apparel from Italy to the United States. 

• Step 2: HS Code Match will automatically give you a list of recommendations based on the best preferences and the tariff rates. From this, we can try to select the clothing accessories with HS code 62171095. 

• Step 3: After selecting the HS codes on HS Code Match, it will lead to the HS code details page. You can see that the general import duty of these apparel products from Italy to the United States is 14,6 percent. 

• Step 4: You can use the AI Assistant to chat with the document in order to find specific parts or details of the HS code. From this, you can find the details of the regulations and the latest tariff in order to export apparel from Italy to the United States easily. 

These are examples of AI chatbot answers on HS Code Match about exporting apparel from Italy to the United States. 

First Question: What are the customs procedures to export apparel from Italy to the United States?  

Answer: Exporting apparel products from Italy to the United States must comply with the regulations from the World Trade Organization (WTO), called Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). This regulation is to ensure the safety standard of apparel products under HS codes 62 and 63. Meanwhile, the United States also requires the apparel products to meet the safety standards from the ICS codes 13 and 61. There is no export restriction from Italy to the US. However, the exporters should pay attention to the prerequisites from the US Customs and Border Protection, including the documents, namely Certificate of Origin, Invoice, Packing List, and Safety Compliance Declaration. 

Second Question: How can Italian exporters verify that their apparel meets the US technical safety regulations under TBT? 

Answer: The Italian exporters should focus on the Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles that is regulated by the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). This regulation applies particularly to the textile products under HS codes 61,62, and 63. The verification steps for exporters from Italy to the United States include identification of the HS code, confirmation of composition material, testing of durability, monitoring by CPSC, and accessing the document through the CPSC website. The communication between the exporters and the CPSC officers is necessary to avoid breaches or other lack of standards. 

Third Question: What specific fabric types are currently exempt from the flammability test based on the US standard? 

Answer: There is no specific type of material that is exempted from the flammability testing under the US Standard for Clothing Textiles. Therefore, this test is required for all textile products. This standard is based on 16 CFR Part 1610, which was established in 1953, and there is no update to the regulation standards. However, there is a possibility of changes in regulation due to the review of the standard OMB control number 3041-0024. 

Conclusion

Finding the right HS code for clothes or apparel, or other textile products, is not easy. You need to scrutinize the material of the apparel products to ensure that you state the accurate HS code. If there is a mistake, there will be consequences that lead to financial loss, and it will have a huge impact on your business. Hence, the exporter or importer should double-check the material descriptions and identify more about the potential blended material or the apparel products that have interchangeable usage, as well as the making process, before determining the HS code and proceeding to the shipping process. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of HS Code for Apparel

1. What is the importance of adding the right HS code for apparel? 

The right HS code is important for every product, including apparel. Therefore, you have to check the accuracy of the HS code for clothes or apparel, or other products. Double-check that the products are made and ensure that the products are classified into the exact HS code for apparel. 

2. What is the website to find the HS code for apparel easily? 

You can find the HS code for apparel easily by using HS Code Match. This third-party website is easy to use, and you can find much information about HS codes, the tariff rates, the latest regulations, and everything about international trade based on the specific country you are looking for. 

3. What are the consequences of not writing the right HS code for apparel? 

There are several consequences if you write the wrong HS code for apparel or other products intended to be exported to other countries. This led to the shipment delay, fines or penalties, paying higher duties, and taxes. These consequences will impact your business and lead to financial loss, and degrade your credibility in the customs agency in a certain country. 

4. What is the challenge in finding the HS code for clothes or apparel? 

The most challenging aspect of finding an HS code for apparel is the structure. In order to ensure the right HS code, you need to understand the structure of the HS code and your product. After knowing the details of your product, it would be easier for you to find the exact HS code and minimize potential incorrect HS codes for apparel.