HS Code for Cold-finished free-cutting steel bars

Classification of cold-finished free-cutting steel bars falls under HS code 7215.10. This classification is governed by the chemical composition requirements found in Subheading Note 1 to Chapter 72. Free-cutting steel is a non-alloy steel specifically designed for high-speed machining, achieved by adding elements like sulfur, lead, phosphorus, selenium, tellurium, or bismuth. To qualify for 7215.10, the steel must contain at least 0.08% sulfur or 0.1% lead by weight. The 'cold-finished' aspect indicates that the bars have been cold-drawn or ground to achieve specific tolerances and surface qualities. Because the HS nomenclature prioritizes the 'free-cutting' characteristic over general non-alloy steel finishing, 7215.10 takes precedence over 7215.50. The classification follows GRI 1, as the heading text for 7215 explicitly includes bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, and the subheading 7215.10 specifically identifies free-cutting steel that is cold-formed or cold-finished.

Products Included

• 12L14 leaded free-cutting steel bars
• 1215 resulfurized and rephosphorized steel rounds
• Cold-drawn free-cutting hexagonal bars for screw machine parts
• Ground and polished free-cutting steel rods
• Free-machining non-alloy steel flats

Common Misclassification

The most common misclassification occurs with HS code 7214.30, which covers free-cutting steel bars that are only hot-rolled. Importers often fail to distinguish the cold-drawing process, which moves the product from 7214 to 7215. Additionally, if the steel contains alloying elements like chromium or nickel above the limits in Note 1(f), it must be classified under 7228.50 (alloy steel) even if it has free-machining properties. Another error is using 7215.50, which is for non-alloy cold-finished bars that are NOT free-cutting. Verification of sulfur and lead content on the material certificate is essential for correct coding.

FAQ

What is the HS code for cold-finished free-cutting steel bars?

The correct HS code is 7215.10, which applies to iron or non-alloy steel bars of free-cutting steel that have been cold-formed or cold-finished.

What chemical elements define a steel as 'free-cutting' in the HS system?

According to Chapter 72 Subheading Note 1, it must contain by weight 0.08% or more of sulfur, 0.1% or more of lead, 0.05% or more of selenium, 0.01% or more of tellurium, or 0.05% or more of bismuth.