Plates, sticks, tips and the like for tools, unmounted, of cermets
2 declarable lines
Heading 8209 covers unmounted plates, sticks, tips and similar pieces made of cermets, meaning sintered metal carbides and other ceramic-metal composites. These are the small cutting or wear pieces that get attached to tool bodies later, not finished tools. The heading splits into two lines: one for sintered metal carbides and one for other cermets, both at the same general rate.
Products in this heading
- Carbide turning inserts sold loose in a box
- Indexable milling inserts, unmounted
- Brazed carbide tips for tool bits, sold as separate pieces
- Sintered carbide rods and sticks used as tool blanks
- Cermet cutting tips for lathe toolholders
- Carbide drill tips or points not yet fixed to a drill body
- Unmounted carbide wear plates and strips
How to choose the right subheading
- Material: sintered metal carbide goes in 8209.00.00.30, other cermets go in 8209.00.00.60.
- Whether the piece is unmounted. Mounted or finished tools leave this heading.
- Whether the item is a plate, stick, tip or similar blank, rather than a complete tool.
- Whether the item is a cutting insert for a toolholder rather than a machine knife or saw blade.
Often confused with
- Heading 8202Carbide-tipped circular saw blades
Saw blades are classified as blades of heading 8202, even when the teeth are carbide.
- Heading 8207Carbide end mills, drills and reamers that are finished interchangeable tools
8207 covers interchangeable tools for hand or machine tools; 8209 covers only the unmounted plates, sticks and tips.
- Heading 8205Complete hand tools such as scrapers or turning tools with the tip already fitted
Once the cermet piece is mounted on a hand tool body, the article is a handtool.
- Heading 8208Knives and cutting blades for machines, including carbide blades
Machine knives and cutting blades are named in heading 8208.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for carbide turning inserts?
Unmounted sintered metal carbide inserts are classified under 8209.00.00.30, which carries a general (MFN) rate of 4.6%.
What is the duty on cermet tool tips?
Tips of other cermets fall under 8209.00.00.60 and pay a general (MFN) rate of 4.6%. Sintered metal carbide tips under 8209.00.00.30 pay the same 4.6% general (MFN) rate.
How do I classify a carbide tip that is already brazed onto a tool shank?
A tip already fixed to a tool body is no longer an unmounted article of 8209.00.00.30. Only loose, unmounted plates, sticks and tips of sintered metal carbide at 4.6% general (MFN) stay in heading 8209.
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.