What is the Harmonized System (HS) of trade codes?

A. The International Harmonized Commodity Coding and Classification System (HS) was established by the World Customs Organization. HS is an international standard for world trade at a 6-digit level of detail. For example, 10=cereals, 1005=corn, 1005.90=other corn. Each country has the option of further breaking down these international HS codes into more digits and greater detail to meet their own needs. Other international or multilateral trade coding systems exist. These include: 1) the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) codes used by the United Nations, and 2) the old Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) used in the United States and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) used by North American Free Trade Agreement member countries (Canada, Mexico, and the United States) to classify industrial goods. These codes all are standardized at six digits, but also can be made more detailed by individual countries. Concordances between these other ...  more

A. The International Harmonized Commodity Coding and Classification System (HS) was established by the World Customs Organization. HS is an international standard for world trade at a 6-digit level of detail. For example, 10=cereals, 1005=corn, 1005.90=other corn. Each country has the option of further breaking down these international HS codes into more digits and greater detail to meet their own needs. Other international or multilateral trade coding systems exist. These include: 1) the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) codes used by the United Nations, and 2) the old Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) used in the United States and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) used by North American Free Trade Agreement member countries (Canada, Mexico, and the United States) to classify industrial goods. These codes all are standardized at six digits, but also can be made more detailed by individual countries. Concordances between these other ...  more