GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

tariff chapter

A tariff chapter is the broadest classification level of the Harmonized System (HS), the internationally recognised commodity nomenclature underpinning customs tariffs worldwide.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/overview/what-is-the-harmonized-system.aspx

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Definition & Explanation

A tariff chapter is the broadest classification level of the Harmonized System (HS), the internationally recognised commodity nomenclature underpinning customs tariffs worldwide. The HS contains 97 chapters, each grouping goods by material composition, degree of processing, or product category: Chapter 01 covers live animals, Chapter 27 mineral fuels, Chapter 84 machinery. Customs brokers and freight forwarders use the chapter as the first reference point when classifying a commodity, but duty rates and import charges are determined only at the level of the full tariff number – typically eight to ten digits depending on the importing jurisdiction. A misclassification at chapter level inevitably carries through to an incorrect tariff number, potentially resulting in wrong duty rates, clearance delays, or post-clearance duty demands.