User Guide

To use the FTA Tariff Tool you will need two key pieces of information:

1. What is your product’s HS Code? You need to know your product’s HS code. The HS code can be 6, 8, or, 10 digits used for a category of products. Unfortunately, the HS terminology can be somewhat arcane. For example, a computer is referred to as an “automated data processing machine” in HS code terminology. The Census Bureau has developed the Schedule B Search Engine, a cross-reference of everyday terms to HS terminology that can help identify the HS numbers for your products.

2. Does your product meet the rule of origin? Under FTAs or TPAs, tariffs are eventually eliminated for almost all products that meet the agreement’s rule of origin. A rule of origin specifies how a product receives originating status in order to take advantage of the agreement’s tariff reductions and related provisions.

Using the Tool

On the “FTA Tariff Tool” search page, select the direction of trade (exports or imports), the name of the U.S. FTA partner, and the HS code of the product the user is searching for. If you do not know the HS code, the Census Bureau’s Schedule B Search Engine search function that will assist you in obtaining an HS code for your product.

The search results show products that meet your initial search criteria. For goods subject to tariff-rate quotas, the in- and out-of quota tariff information are displayed separately.

For more information, click on the link that applies to your product.

Once you click on a product, the full HS code, description, staging basket, and product-specific rules of origin of the product are displayed. NOTE: Descriptions are based on the national tariff schedules of the FTA countries and are often in a different language.

The tariff phase-out schedule of the product from the base rate (pre-FTA tariff) to complete elimination will be provided in a table.