GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026
WCO HS Convention
At the moment of customs declaration, everything hinges on correct tariff classification – and the WCO HS Convention provides the international legal foundation for doing so.
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Source: https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature/instrument-and-tools/hs-convention.aspx
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Passar Hub: Everything on the new Swiss customs system
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Definition & Explanation
At the moment of customs declaration, everything hinges on correct tariff classification – and the WCO HS Convention provides the international legal foundation for doing so. Administered by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the convention establishes the Harmonized System (HS): a standardized nomenclature in which goods are described through six-digit codes that are uniform across all signatory states. Most national tariff schedules build on these six digits, extending them to eight or ten digits for domestic duty purposes. Importers, exporters, and customs authorities rely on HS codes to assess duties, compile comparable trade statistics, and enforce import controls or security measures. The convention also sets out binding general rules of interpretation and is periodically revised to capture new products and technologies. It is applied by the vast majority of WTO members and underpins virtually all cross-border trade documentation.
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Passar Hub: Everything on the new Swiss customs system
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