What is the Harmonized System or HS?
The Harmonized System is the basis for Customs tariffs and international trade statistics in more than 100 nations. The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System or HS) is an international commodity classification (six digit codes) developed under the auspices of the Customs Cooperation Council (now the World Customs Organization). “Harmonized” refers to the fact that the categories, descriptions, general rules of interpretation, and 6-digit codes for goods are the same across signatory nations. • Brussels Tariff Nomenclature (BTN) – An international tariff classification system used until 1976, when it was renamed the Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature (CCCN). CCCN was the tariff nomenclature used by most trading nations prior to January 1988, when the Harmonized System (HS) came into existence. • Harmonized Code – An internationally accepted and uniform description system for classifying goods for customs, statistical and other purposes. • Harmonized
