CHAPTER 96 · LEGAL NOTES
Chapter 96
The 104 legal notes below govern classification under Chapter 96. They are part of the official Harmonized Tariff Schedule and are cited verbatim in CBP rulings.
As of June 9, 2026
Chapter notes
Note 1
Chapter Note 1: This chapter does not cover: (a) Pencils for cosmetic or toilet uses (chapter 33); (b) Articles of chapter 66 (for example, parts of umbrellas or walking-sticks); (c) Imitation jewelry (heading 7117); (d) Parts of general use, as defined in note 2 to section XV, of base metal (section XV) or similar goods of plastics (chapter 39); (e) Cutlery or other articles of chapter 82 with handles or other parts of carving or molding materials; heading 9601 or 9602 applies, however, to separately entered handles or other parts of such articles; (f) Articles of chapter 90 (for example, spectacle frames (heading 9003), mathematical drawing pens (heading 9017), brushes of a kind specialized for use in dentistry or for medical, surgical or veterinary purposes (heading 9018)); (g) Articles of chapter 91 (for example, clock or watch cases); (h) Musical instruments or parts or accessories thereof (chapter 92); (ij) Articles of chapter 93 (arms and parts thereof);
Note 2
Chapter Note 2: In heading 9602 the expression "vegetable or mineral carving material" means: (a) Hard seeds, pips, hulls and nuts and similar vegetable materials of a kind used for carving (for example, corozo and dom); (b) Amber, meerschaum, agglomerated amber and agglomerated meerschaum, jet and mineral substitutes for jet.
Note 3
Chapter Note 3: In heading 9603 the expression "prepared knots and tufts for broom or brush making" applies only to unmounted knots and tufts of animal hair, vegetable fiber or other material, which are ready for incorporation without division in brooms or brushes, or which require only such further minor processes as trimming to shape at the top, to render them ready for such incorporation.
Note 4
Chapter Note 4: Articles of this chapter, other than those of headings 9601 to 9606 or 9615, remain classified in the chapter whether or not composed wholly or partly of precious metal or metal clad with precious metal, of natural or cultured pearls, or precious or semiprecious stones (natural, synthetic or reconstructed). However, headings 9601 to 9606 and 9615 include articles in which natural or cultured pearls, precious or semiprecious stones (natural, synthetic or reconstructed), precious metal or metal clad with precious metal constitute only minor constituents.
Additional U.S. notes
Note 0
Additional U.S. Note 0: 5¢ each + 3%1/ 1 Unit Rates of Duty of Quantity Article Description Stat. Suffix Heading/ Subheading 1 2 General Special Combs, hair-slides and the like; hairpins, curling pins, curling grips, hair-curlers and the like, other than those of heading 8516, and parts thereof: 9615 Combs, hair-slides and the like:
Note 1
Additional U.S. Note 1: For the purposes of heading 9606 the term "line" in the rates of duty columns means the line button measure of 0.635 mm.
Note 2
Additional U.S. Note 2: Buttons (whether or not finished) provided for in subheadings 9606.21.40 and 9606.29.20 which are the product of an insular possession of the United States outside the customs territory of the United States and which are manufactured or produced from button blanks or unfinished buttons which were the product of any foreign country shall be subject to duty under subheadings
Note 2
Additional U.S. Note 2: 7%1/ 1 Unit Rates of Duty of Quantity Article Description Stat. Suffix Heading/ Subheading 1 2 General Special Brooms, brushes (including brushes constituting parts of machines, appliances or vehicles), hand-operated mechanical floor sweepers, not motorized, mops and feather dusters; prepared knots and tufts for broom or brush making; paint pads and rollers; squeegees (other than roller squeegees): 9603 Brooms and brushes, consisting of twigs or other vegetable materials bound together, with or without handles:
Note 3
Additional U.S. Note 3: 5%1/ thousands. Other: Parts of articles provided for in subheadings
Note 7
Additional U.S. Note 7: 9%1/ kg Other: Thermal transfer printing ribbons of coated 30 doz. kg kg
footnote
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.90.08.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15, 9903.88.25, 9903.88.26, 9903.88.27 and 9903.88.28.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.15.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03, 9903.88.21, 9903.88.22, 9903.88.23 and 9903.88.24.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03, 9903.88.21, 9903.88.22, 9903.88.23 and 9903.88.24.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
See 9903.88.03.
Applies to
Classify under Chapter 96 with confidence
TariffLens applies the legal notes above automatically when classifying — citing the relevant note in every GRI reasoning chain.