Chapter 68 covers articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials. These materials are usually processed by shaping, hardening or bonding, and are used in construction, industrial or consumer goods fields. This chapter does not include ceramic articles (Chapter 69) or glass articles (Chapter 70), nor does it include articles carved directly from natural stone (Chapter 97). Heading 6813 specifically refers to friction material and articles thereof, which is a highly technical category of industrial parts within this chapter. Heading 6813 includes friction material and articles thereof, such as brake pads, clutch facings, brake bands, etc. Their core characteristic is that they are made with asbestos, mineral fibers, cellulose fibers, etc. as the base material, combined with resin or rubber binders, and formed by molding or winding processes, used for mechanical braking or transmission. This heading is divided into multiple subheadings: 6813.10 is containing asbestos, 6813.20 is not containing asbestos but containing other mineral fibers, and 6813.90 is other (such as cellulose fibers or mixed materials). 681390 refers to other articles of friction material, covering friction materials not otherwise specified. Code 681390 is a 6-digit subheading: the first 2 digits "68" represent Chapter 68 (articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials); digits 3-4 "13" represent heading 6813 (friction material and articles thereof, not mounted on machinery); digits 5-6 "90" represent subheading 6813.90, namely "other" articles of friction material, excluding articles containing asbestos (6813.10) and those containing other mineral fibers (6813.20). Therefore, 681390 specifically refers to articles of friction material based on non-asbestos and non-mineral fibers such as cellulose fibers, aramid, carbon fibers, or friction materials not specifically named. The key to classifying this product under 681390 rather than adjacent codes lies in the material composition: if it contains asbestos, it is classified under 6813.10; if it contains other mineral fibers (such as glass fiber, rock wool), it is classified under 6813.20; if it is mainly based on cellulose fibers (such as aramid, carbon fiber) or mixed materials, and is not mounted on machinery, it is classified under 681390. At the same time, if it is already mounted on a brake system or clutch, it may be classified under Chapter 87 as a vehicle part, but 6813 only covers unmounted articles of friction material.
Chapter
Chapter 68 covers articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials. These materials are usually processed by shaping, hardening or bonding, and are used in construction, industrial or consumer goods fields. This chapter does not include ceramic articles (Chapter 69) or glass articles (Chapter 70), nor does it include articles carved directly from natural stone (Chapter 97). Heading 6813 specifically refers to friction material and articles thereof, which is a highly technical category of industrial parts within this chapter.
Heading
Heading 6813 includes friction material and articles thereof, such as brake pads, clutch facings, brake bands, etc. Their core characteristic is that they are made with asbestos, mineral fibers, cellulose fibers, etc. as the base material, combined with resin or rubber binders, and formed by molding or winding processes, used for mechanical braking or transmission. This heading is divided into multiple subheadings: 6813.10 is containing asbestos, 6813.20 is not containing asbestos but containing other mineral fibers, and 6813.90 is other (such as cellulose fibers or mixed materials). 681390 refers to other articles of friction material, covering friction materials not otherwise specified.
Digit Breakdown
Code 681390 is a 6-digit subheading: the first 2 digits "68" represent Chapter 68 (articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials); digits 3-4 "13" represent heading 6813 (friction material and articles thereof, not mounted on machinery); digits 5-6 "90" represent subheading 6813.90, namely "other" articles of friction material, excluding articles containing asbestos (6813.10) and those containing other mineral fibers (6813.20). Therefore, 681390 specifically refers to articles of friction material based on non-asbestos and non-mineral fibers such as cellulose fibers, aramid, carbon fibers, or friction materials not specifically named.
Classification Basis
The key to classifying this product under 681390 rather than adjacent codes lies in the material composition: if it contains asbestos, it is classified under 6813.10; if it contains other mineral fibers (such as glass fiber, rock wool), it is classified under 6813.20; if it is mainly based on cellulose fibers (such as aramid, carbon fiber) or mixed materials, and is not mounted on machinery, it is classified under 681390. At the same time, if it is already mounted on a brake system or clutch, it may be classified under Chapter 87 as a vehicle part, but 6813 only covers unmounted articles of friction material.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: The specific name of the declared commodity, such as "brake pad", "clutch facing", "friction plate", etc., and it must be consistent with the actual goods. Use: Explain the final use of the article, such as for automobile braking, industrial machinery clutches, etc. Material: List in detail the base material and binder composition, such as "aramid fiber + phenolic resin", "carbon fiber + rubber". Whether it contains asbestos: Clearly declare whether it contains asbestos components, which is the key to distinguishing 6813.10 from other subheadings. Brand: Declare the brand name (if no brand, fill in "none"), used for customs intellectual property protection. Model: Fill in the product model or specification to facilitate customs identification and statistics. Appearance: Describe the shape, color, etc. of the article, such as "rectangular sheet" or "annular band". Whether already mounted: Declare whether it is already mounted on machinery or vehicles; only unmounted ones are classified under 6813. Product name: automobile brake pad; Use: for passenger car disc brakes; Material: aramid fiber 30%, phenolic resin 25%, copper powder 20%, other fillers 25%; Whether it contains asbestos: no; Brand: ABC; Model: BP-2024; Appearance: rectangular sheet, gray; Whether already mounted: not mounted. Failure to declare whether asbestos is contained, leading to incorrect subheading classification. Classifying brake pads already mounted on brake calipers under 6813, when they should actually be classified under Chapter 87. Material description is too general to determine whether mineral fibers are contained, affecting the distinction between 6813.20 and 6813.90.
Product name
The specific name of the declared commodity, such as "brake pad", "clutch facing", "friction plate", etc., and it must be consistent with the actual goods.
⚠️ Declaring it generally as "friction material" without specifying the article name.
Use
Explain the final use of the article, such as for automobile braking, industrial machinery clutches, etc.
⚠️ Only writing "for braking" without indicating the specific type of machinery.
Material
List in detail the base material and binder composition, such as "aramid fiber + phenolic resin", "carbon fiber + rubber".
⚠️ Only writing "composite material" without listing the specific fiber and resin types.
Whether it contains asbestos
Clearly declare whether it contains asbestos components, which is the key to distinguishing 6813.10 from other subheadings.
⚠️ Failure to declare or incorrect declaration of asbestos content, leading to classification errors.
Brand
Declare the brand name (if no brand, fill in "none"), used for customs intellectual property protection.
⚠️ Ignoring brand declaration, or filling it in incompletely.
Model
Fill in the product model or specification to facilitate customs identification and statistics.
⚠️ Model filled in vaguely, such as "universal type".
Appearance
Describe the shape, color, etc. of the article, such as "rectangular sheet" or "annular band".
⚠️ Only writing "sheet" without describing color or dimensions.
Whether already mounted
Declare whether it is already mounted on machinery or vehicles; only unmounted ones are classified under 6813.
⚠️ Incorrectly classifying mounted brake pads under 6813.
Example： Product name: automobile brake pad; Use: for passenger car disc brakes; Material: aramid fiber 30%, phenolic resin 25%, copper powder 20%, other fillers 25%; Whether it contains asbestos: no; Brand: ABC; Model: BP-2024; Appearance: rectangular sheet, gray; Whether already mounted: not mounted.
Common Mistakes：
Failure to declare whether asbestos is contained, leading to incorrect subheading classification.
Classifying brake pads already mounted on brake calipers under 6813, when they should actually be classified under Chapter 87.
Material description is too general to determine whether mineral fibers are contained, affecting the distinction between 6813.20 and 6813.90.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the description of 6813 in the Import and Export Tariff and the HS Explanatory Notes: friction material and articles thereof, not mounted on machinery, made with asbestos, mineral fibers, cellulose fibers, etc. as the base material, combined with binders. When determining, attention should be paid to: 1) material composition, whether it contains asbestos or mineral fibers; 2) whether it is already mounted on machinery or vehicles; 3) the form of the article, whether it is a sheet, band, block, etc. If it contains asbestos, classify under 6813.10; if it contains other mineral fibers, classify under 6813.20; if it is mainly based on cellulose fibers or carbon fibers, classify under 6813.90. 681310 Articles of friction material containing asbestos: 681310 specifically refers to friction material containing asbestos, while 681390 does not contain asbestos. If the product contains asbestos, it must be classified under 681310, otherwise it may involve non-compliance. 681320 Articles of friction material containing other mineral fibers: 681320 contains mineral fibers (such as glass fiber, rock wool), while 681390 does not contain mineral fibers and is mainly based on cellulose fibers or carbon fibers. 870830 Brakes and parts thereof for motor vehicles: 870830 covers mounted brakes and parts, while 681390 only covers unmounted articles of friction material. If the brake pad is already mounted on a brake caliper, it should be classified under 870830. 681599 Other articles of stone or similar materials: 681599 covers articles of stone not otherwise specified, while 681390 specifically refers to articles of friction material. If the product does not have a friction function, it may be classified under 681599. Is it clearly declared that it does not contain asbestos? Is it mainly based on cellulose fibers or carbon fibers? Is it not mounted on machinery or vehicles? Does it have a friction function (used for braking or transmission)? Does it not fall within the scope of 6813.10 or 6813.20?
Basis
The core basis for classification is the description of 6813 in the Import and Export Tariff and the HS Explanatory Notes: friction material and articles thereof, not mounted on machinery, made with asbestos, mineral fibers, cellulose fibers, etc. as the base material, combined with binders. When determining, attention should be paid to: 1) material composition, whether it contains asbestos or mineral fibers; 2) whether it is already mounted on machinery or vehicles; 3) the form of the article, whether it is a sheet, band, block, etc. If it contains asbestos, classify under 6813.10; if it contains other mineral fibers, classify under 6813.20; if it is mainly based on cellulose fibers or carbon fibers, classify under 6813.90.
Confused Codes：
681310 - Articles of friction material containing asbestos
681310 specifically refers to friction material containing asbestos, while 681390 does not contain asbestos. If the product contains asbestos, it must be classified under 681310, otherwise it may involve non-compliance.
681320 - Articles of friction material containing other mineral fibers
681320 contains mineral fibers (such as glass fiber, rock wool), while 681390 does not contain mineral fibers and is mainly based on cellulose fibers or carbon fibers.
870830 - Brakes and parts thereof for motor vehicles
870830 covers mounted brakes and parts, while 681390 only covers unmounted articles of friction material. If the brake pad is already mounted on a brake caliper, it should be classified under 870830.
681599 - Other articles of stone or similar materials
681599 covers articles of stone not otherwise specified, while 681390 specifically refers to articles of friction material. If the product does not have a friction function, it may be classified under 681599.
Self-Check：
✓ Is it clearly declared that it does not contain asbestos?
✓ Is it mainly based on cellulose fibers or carbon fibers?
✓ Is it not mounted on machinery or vehicles?
✓ Does it have a friction function (used for braking or transmission)?
✓ Does it not fall within the scope of 6813.10 or 6813.20?
❓ FAQ
How can it be determined whether an article of friction material contains asbestos? It can be confirmed through the material safety data sheet (MSDS) or test report provided by the supplier. If it cannot be confirmed, it is recommended to send it to a laboratory for testing. Those containing asbestos are classified under 681310, and those not containing asbestos under 681320 or 681390. If a brake pad is already mounted on a brake caliper, which code should it be classified under? A mounted brake pad belongs to parts of motor vehicle brakes and should be classified under 870830, not 681390. 6813 only covers unmounted articles of friction material. What is the main difference between 681390 and 681320? 681320 contains other mineral fibers (such as glass fiber, rock wool), while 681390 does not contain mineral fibers and is mainly based on cellulose fibers, aramid, carbon fibers, etc. Material composition must be provided when declaring. In the declaration elements for articles of friction material, why must whether they contain asbestos be declared? Because friction material containing asbestos is classified under 681310, and that not containing asbestos is classified under 681320 or 681390. Incorrect declaration may lead to classification errors, tax evasion, or violation of environmental regulations. How can the import tariff rate for 681390 be checked? You can log on to the website of the General Administration of Customs of China or use the "Customs Classification Intelligent Navigation" system and enter code 681390 to check the latest tariff rate. Tariff rates may vary by country and trade agreement, and the actual query shall prevail. How should brake pads sold via cross-border e-commerce be declared? The code should be determined based on whether the product contains asbestos, whether it is mounted, material composition, etc. If it is an unmounted brake pad that does not contain asbestos, it can be classified under 681390. When declaring, elements such as product name, use, and material must be provided. What are the common types of articles of friction material under 681390? Common types include automobile brake pads, clutch facings, friction plates for industrial machinery, train brake shoes, etc., but it must be ensured that they are unmounted and do not contain asbestos or mineral fibers. If an article of friction material contains both asbestos and mineral fibers, which code should it be classified under? As long as it contains asbestos, it should be classified under 681310, because 681310 takes precedence over 681320 and 681390. Whether it contains asbestos is the primary criterion for classification.
Q: How can it be determined whether an article of friction material contains asbestos?
A: It can be confirmed through the material safety data sheet (MSDS) or test report provided by the supplier. If it cannot be confirmed, it is recommended to send it to a laboratory for testing. Those containing asbestos are classified under 681310, and those not containing asbestos under 681320 or 681390.
Q: If a brake pad is already mounted on a brake caliper, which code should it be classified under?
A: A mounted brake pad belongs to parts of motor vehicle brakes and should be classified under 870830, not 681390. 6813 only covers unmounted articles of friction material.
Q: What is the main difference between 681390 and 681320?
A: 681320 contains other mineral fibers (such as glass fiber, rock wool), while 681390 does not contain mineral fibers and is mainly based on cellulose fibers, aramid, carbon fibers, etc. Material composition must be provided when declaring.
Q: In the declaration elements for articles of friction material, why must whether they contain asbestos be declared?
A: Because friction material containing asbestos is classified under 681310, and that not containing asbestos is classified under 681320 or 681390. Incorrect declaration may lead to classification errors, tax evasion, or violation of environmental regulations.
Q: How can the import tariff rate for 681390 be checked?
A: You can log on to the website of the General Administration of Customs of China or use the "Customs Classification Intelligent Navigation" system and enter code 681390 to check the latest tariff rate. Tariff rates may vary by country and trade agreement, and the actual query shall prevail.
Q: How should brake pads sold via cross-border e-commerce be declared?
A: The code should be determined based on whether the product contains asbestos, whether it is mounted, material composition, etc. If it is an unmounted brake pad that does not contain asbestos, it can be classified under 681390. When declaring, elements such as product name, use, and material must be provided.
Q: What are the common types of articles of friction material under 681390?
A: Common types include automobile brake pads, clutch facings, friction plates for industrial machinery, train brake shoes, etc., but it must be ensured that they are unmounted and do not contain asbestos or mineral fibers.
Q: If an article of friction material contains both asbestos and mineral fibers, which code should it be classified under?
A: As long as it contains asbestos, it should be classified under 681310, because 681310 takes precedence over 681320 and 681390. Whether it contains asbestos is the primary criterion for classification.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.