Chapter 72 covers iron and steel smelting and primary products, including pig iron, ferroalloys, waste and scrap, steel ingots and various semi-finished products, flat-rolled products, bars and rods, angles and sections, etc. However, further processed products (such as coating, plating, plastic coating) may be classified under Chapter 73 or other chapters if they exceed the scope of the chapter notes. This chapter is the core chapter for iron and steel trade, involving a large number of basic industrial products worldwide. Heading 7210 covers flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, clad, plated or coated. This includes tin-plated, zinc-plated, painted, plastic-coated, etc. However, note: if the plastic coating on a steel plate exceeds 50% of the total thickness, or if the plastic constitutes the essential character, it may be classified under Chapter 39. The specific subheadings under this heading are further subdivided by coating material and thickness. First 2 digits 72: Chapter 72, Iron and steel. Digits 3-4: 10: Heading 7210, flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, clad, plated or coated. Digits 5-6: 61: Subheading 721061, steel plates coated solely with plastics, with the plastic layer not exceeding 50% of the total thickness. If the plastic layer exceeds 50%, classification should be under 3919 or 3921, etc. If the base metal is alloy steel, classification should be under 7225 or 7226. This subheading is not further subdivided by type of plastic, but the type and thickness of the plastic must be declared. This commodity is a steel plate with a plastic coating on the surface, the base metal being iron or non-alloy steel, width 600 mm or more, and the plastic layer does not constitute the essential character (thickness ≤50%). Therefore, it is classified under 7210.61, rather than 7210.70 (painted or plastic-coated but not explicitly plastic-coated) or 7212 (width <600 mm). If the plastic layer is too thick or the base metal is alloy steel, classification should be under Chapter 39 or 7225/7226.

Product name: Declare the commodity name, should indicate 'plastic-coated steel plate' or the specific commodity name, avoid generic terms like 'steel plate'. Material: Declare the base metal material, such as 'non-alloy steel', and indicate the type of plastic, such as 'polyethylene (PE) coating'. Specifications and dimensions: Declare thickness, width, length (if coil, indicate coil), width must be ≥600 mm. Plastic layer thickness: Declare the thickness of the plastic layer and its proportion of the total thickness, to determine if it is ≤50%. Processing technology: Explain the coating method, such as 'hot lamination', 'extrusion coating', etc., and whether other treatments have been applied. Grade: Declare the steel grade (e.g., Q235), if none can be left blank, but it is recommended to provide. Use: Declare the main use, such as 'home appliance casing', 'building decoration', etc. Product name: Plastic-coated steel plate; Material: Non-alloy steel base, polyethylene (PE) coating; Specifications: Thickness 1.0 mm (plastic layer 0.2 mm, 20%), width 1250 mm, coil; Processing technology: Hot lamination; Grade: Q235; Use: Home appliance casing. Failure to declare plastic layer thickness and proportion, making it impossible to determine whether to classify under 7210.61. Confusing plastic coating with painting; painting should be classified under 7210.70. Ignoring width requirement; width <600 mm should be classified under 7212.

Core basis for classification: 1) Base metal is iron or non-alloy steel; 2) Width ≥600 mm; 3) Plastic coating, with plastic layer thickness not exceeding 50% of total thickness; 4) Plastic layer does not constitute the essential character. If the plastic layer exceeds 50%, according to chapter notes, it may be classified under Chapter 39. If the base metal is alloy steel, classify under 7225/7226. If width <600 mm, classify under 7212. 721070 Painted or plastic-coated steel plate: 721070 refers to painted or plastic-coated (not plastic-laminated), usually with a thinner coating, and may be paint or varnish. Plastic coating usually refers to plastic film or sheet, with greater thickness, and explicitly plastic material. 721240 Plastic-coated steel plate of width <600 mm: 721240 is painted or plastic-coated steel plate of width <600 mm, including plastic coating. The difference is width: ≥600 mm goes to 7210, <600 mm goes to 7212. 722599 Plastic-coated alloy steel plate: 722599 is flat-rolled alloy steel products, width ≥600 mm, with other coating. If the base metal is alloy steel, even with plastic coating, it should be classified under 7225, not 7210. 391990 Plastic sheets: If the plastic layer thickness exceeds 50% of total thickness, or plastic constitutes the essential character, classify under Chapter 39. 391990 is other plastic sheets, including plastic with steel layer. Is the base metal non-alloy steel? Is the width ≥600 mm? Is the plastic layer thickness ≤50% of total thickness? Does the plastic layer constitute the essential character? Has it been subjected to other coating treatments?

How to inquire about the import tariff rate for 721061? You can check the official website of the General Administration of Customs, China International Trade Single Window, or third-party query platforms. Enter HS code 721061, select the country of origin and trade mode, and you can query the MFN rate, agreement rate, etc. Note that rates may change, subject to the latest announcement. What is the difference in classification between plastic-coated steel plate and painted steel plate? Plastic-coated steel plate usually refers to coated with plastic film or sheet, with greater thickness, classified under 721061; painted steel plate refers to coated with paint or varnish, with thinner coating, classified under 721070. The key difference is the coating material and thickness; plastic coating requires declaration of plastic type and thickness. If the plastic layer thickness exceeds 50% of total thickness, which code should it be classified under? According to Chapter 72 notes, if the plastic layer exceeds 50%, the plastic constitutes the essential character, and it should be classified under Chapter 39, specifically 3919 or 3921 for plastic sheets. Proof of plastic layer thickness is required. How to classify plastic-coated steel plate of width less than 600 mm? Plastic-coated steel plate of width less than 600 mm should be classified under 7212, specifically subheading 721240 (painted or plastic-coated). Classification requires consideration of both width and coating material. How to fill in the plastic layer thickness when declaring? In the declaration elements, the total thickness and plastic layer thickness should be filled separately, and the proportion of the plastic layer should be indicated. For example: total thickness 1.0 mm, plastic layer 0.2 mm, proportion 20%. This helps customs determine classification. Can plastic-coated alloy steel plate be classified under 721061? No. 721061 only applies to non-alloy steel. If the base metal is alloy steel, it should be classified under 7225 or 7226, depending on width and processing state. Alloy element content must be declared. How to determine the HS code for cross-border e-commerce sales of plastic-coated steel plate? First confirm the base metal material (non-alloy steel), width (≥600 mm), plastic layer thickness (≤50%), then classify under 721061. If it is a finished product (e.g., cut into specific shapes), it may need to be classified as a finished product. It is recommended to consult a professional customs broker. Are 721061 and 721070 easily confused during customs declaration? They are easily confused. Both are coated steel plates of width ≥600 mm, but 721061 is plastic-coated, 721070 is painted or plastic-coated. During declaration, proof of coating material is required, such as plastic film sample or composition test report, to avoid classification errors.