Classification and duties · 3 min read
Check AD/CVD scope before ordering imported goods
Antidumping and countervailing duties can sit outside an ordinary HTS duty estimate. A code search alone does not establish that an order applies or does not apply. Compare the exact goods with the written order scope, origin and producer/exporter information; seek a scope review when coverage is uncertain.
Start with scope, not only the tariff code
USITC explains that AD/CVD information is not contained in the ordinary HTS. Commerce administers the orders and written product scope; a scope ruling addresses whether a specific product falls within an order. HTS references in an order can help search, but the scope language controls the coverage inquiry.
| Collect | Why |
|---|---|
| Exact goods and technical specifications | Compare to written order scope |
| Manufacturing origin and production process | Identify applicable country/product facts |
| Producer and exporter names | Investigate potentially applicable cash-deposit instructions |
| Proposed entry date | Check instructions and reviews relevant to that entry |
Use a written screening trail
- Find potentially relevant Commerce orders by product and country; do not stop at a bare HTS match.
- Read the full written scope, exclusions and any applicable scope rulings against your actual specifications.
- Record producer/exporter identities and ask the broker about deposit instructions and changes from reviews.
- If coverage remains ambiguous, obtain an appropriate scope analysis before placing a large order or setting a resale price.
Commerce notes that administrative reviews can change deposit rates and that producer/exporter combinations matter. A general article cannot provide a valid rate for an unspecified purchase. Keep duty exposure pending until the relevant order and instructions are checked.
Keep the estimate explicitly partial
Carry a separate AD/CVD status in the purchase model: not researched, under review, or a supported determination. A missing ordinary HTS charge does not establish an AD/CVD rate of zero. Ask a licensed customs broker or qualified trade counsel when written scope or company-specific instructions are material.
Assumptions and limits
Assumptions
- The proposed purchase is commercial and its precise product, manufacturer and exporter can be identified.
Costs and duties not included
- LandedLlama does not include AD/CVD in its duties-and-fees total; an informational zero or absent line is not evidence that liability is zero.
Prepare your own estimate
Use your shipment details to open the existing calculator.
Use digits and a dot, with up to two decimals (for example, 1200.50).
Opening the calculator prepares these inputs. Only pressing Calculate uses a calculation from your plan.
You will need to select the correct HTS code in the calculator before it can estimate duties.
Common questions
Does an ordinary HTS search establish that AD/CVD is zero?
No. AD/CVD order scope is a separate inquiry; investigate applicable orders and their written scope.
Can the same product have different deposit instructions?
Potentially. Commerce reviews and producer/exporter identities can affect instructions; check the specific order and current applicable records.
Sources
- HTS classification FAQs
United States International Trade Commission · Checked
- AD/CVD frequently asked questions
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration · Checked
- Customs brokers and freight forwarders
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration · Checked
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