WCO Releases Final 2022 Harmonized System Tariff Nomenclature

The World Customs Organization recently announced that the final 2022 edition of the Harmonized System tariff nomenclature is now available on its website. The new edition, which replaces the 2017 version, will take effect Jan. 1, though WCO HS Convention members must implement the changes in their own tariff schedules.

The 2022 HS includes “significant changes” to the tariff nomenclature, with 351 sets of amendments comprising “77 relating to the agricultural sector; 58 to the chemical sector; 31 to the wood sector; 21 to the textile sector; 27 to the base metal sector; 63 to the machinery sector; 22 to the transport sector and an additional 52 that apply to a variety of other sectors,” the WCO said. The nomenclature harmonizes classification across over 200 countries at the six-digit level, with countries free to shape their own tariff schedules at the eight- and 10-digit levels.

In the pipeline for years (see 2109160023 and 2101220042), the tariff nomenclature changes are being made “taking into consideration public health and safety, protection of society and fight against terrorism, goods especially controlled under various conventions, food security and environment protection, technological progress, trade patterns, and clarification of the HS texts,” the WCO said.

The WCO also posted correlation tables that correlate the 2017 and 2022 editions of the HS tariff nomenclature.

“Customs administrations and regional economic communities have a huge task to ensure timely implementation of the 2022 HS Edition, as required by the HS Convention,” the WCO said. “They are therefore encouraged to begin the process of preparing for the implementation of HS 2022 in their national Customs tariff or statistical nomenclatures. The WCO will step up its capacity building efforts to assist Members with their implementation.”