Heading 4703

Chemical woodpulp, soda or sulfate, other than dissolving grades

6 declarable lines

Heading 4703 covers chemical woodpulp made by the soda or sulfate (kraft) process, other than dissolving grades. The heading splits first by bleach level, unbleached in 4703.11 and 4703.19 versus semibleached or bleached in 4703.21 and 4703.29, then by fiber source, coniferous or nonconiferous. The semibleached and bleached lines are further split by semibleached versus bleached. All lines in this heading carry a general (MFN) rate of Free.

Products in this heading

Unbleached softwood kraft pulp in bales
Unbleached hardwood kraft pulp for papermaking
Bleached softwood kraft pulp in sheets
Bleached hardwood kraft pulp in rolls
Semibleached coniferous kraft pulp
Semibleached nonconiferous kraft pulp
Market kraft pulp sold to paper mills

How to choose the right subheading

Bleach level: unbleached pulp is classified in the 4703.11 or 4703.19 lines.
Fiber source: decide coniferous versus nonconiferous, since each bleach level splits on this.
For semibleached or bleached pulp, decide semibleached versus bleached, as these are separate lines.
Pulping process: confirm the pulp is soda or sulfate (kraft), not sulfite.
Confirm the pulp is not a dissolving grade, which is classified outside this heading.

Often confused with

Dissolving grade woodpulp used to make viscose or acetate
Dissolving grades are excluded from 4703 and classified in 4702.
Sulfite chemical woodpulp
4703 covers only soda or sulfate pulp; sulfite pulp sits in its own heading.
Heading 4704
Mechanical or semichemical woodpulp
Mechanical pulp is a different pulp type and is not a chemical soda or sulfate pulp.
Pulp of fibers from recovered waste paper
Fibrous cellulosic pulp from recovered material goes to 4706.
Heading 4706
Recovered waste and scrap paper and paperboard
4703 covers new chemical woodpulp, not recovered paper for recycling.
Heading 4707

Frequently asked questions

What is the HTS code for unbleached coniferous kraft pulp?

Unbleached coniferous chemical woodpulp, soda or sulfate, is classified under 4703.11.00.00. The general (MFN) rate for this line is Free.

What is the duty on bleached nonconiferous kraft pulp?

Bleached nonconiferous pulp is classified under 4703.29.00.40, and the general (MFN) rate is Free. Semibleached nonconiferous pulp uses a different line, 4703.29.00.20, which is also Free.

How do I classify semibleached coniferous chemical woodpulp?

Semibleached coniferous soda or sulfate pulp is classified under 4703.21.00.20. The general (MFN) rate for that line is Free.

Guide written from the official schedule text. Rates quoted are general (MFN) rates; check the line page for trade agreement rates and the classification of your exact product.