Chapter 72 covers iron and steel and articles thereof, including raw materials, semi-finished and finished steel products. This chapter forms a complete steel product system from ironmaking and steelmaking to rolling and surface treatment. 7212 belongs to flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, clad, plated or coated, and is a deep-processed steel product. Heading 7212 covers flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, surface-treated by tinning, lead-coating, galvanizing, aluminum-coating, painting, etc. Among these, 7212.10 specifically refers to tin-coated or tin-lead coated narrow strip steel, commonly used in corrosion-resistant packaging fields such as food cans and electronic components. First 2 digits 72 = Chapter on iron and steel; digits 3-4, 12 = flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, clad, plated or coated; digits 5-6, 10 = tin-coated or tin-lead coated. Therefore 721210 = tin-coated carbon steel narrow strip of a width of less than 600mm. The commodity is carbon steel and tin-coated, with a width of less than 600mm, meeting heading 7212. If the width is ≥600mm, it should be classified under 7210; if it is stainless steel, it should be classified under 7219 or 7220; if it is other alloy steel, it should be classified under 7225 or 7226.
Chapter
Chapter 72 covers iron and steel and articles thereof, including raw materials, semi-finished and finished steel products. This chapter forms a complete steel product system from ironmaking and steelmaking to rolling and surface treatment. 7212 belongs to flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, clad, plated or coated, and is a deep-processed steel product.
Heading
Heading 7212 covers flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, surface-treated by tinning, lead-coating, galvanizing, aluminum-coating, painting, etc. Among these, 7212.10 specifically refers to tin-coated or tin-lead coated narrow strip steel, commonly used in corrosion-resistant packaging fields such as food cans and electronic components.
Digit Breakdown
First 2 digits 72 = Chapter on iron and steel; digits 3-4, 12 = flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, clad, plated or coated; digits 5-6, 10 = tin-coated or tin-lead coated. Therefore 721210 = tin-coated carbon steel narrow strip of a width of less than 600mm.
Classification Basis
The commodity is carbon steel and tin-coated, with a width of less than 600mm, meeting heading 7212. If the width is ≥600mm, it should be classified under 7210; if it is stainless steel, it should be classified under 7219 or 7220; if it is other alloy steel, it should be classified under 7225 or 7226.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: The standard name of the declared commodity, which should use the standardized name recognized by customs, such as "tin-coated carbon steel sheet". Material: State the substrate material, such as non-alloy steel (carbon steel), and indicate the carbon content range. Specifications and Dimensions: Declare thickness, width, length (if coil, indicate coil), and the width must be less than 600mm. Coating Type: Specify the coating as tin or tin-lead alloy, and indicate the coating thickness or tin coating weight. State: Declare the form, such as coil, sheet, strip, and whether it has undergone further processing. Use: State the main use, such as food cans, electronic components, packaging materials, etc. Brand or Manufacturer: Declare the brand name or manufacturer; if no brand, fill in "none". Product Name: Tin-coated carbon steel sheet; Material: Non-alloy steel, carbon content 0.08%; Specifications: Thickness 0.20mm, width 500mm, coil; Coating: Tin-plated, tin coating weight 2.8g/m²; State: Coil; Use: For food cans; Brand: BAOSTEEL; Manufacturer: Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. If width exceeds 600mm, it should be classified under 7210 rather than 7212. If the coating is chromium or chromium oxide, it should be classified under 7210 or other subheadings of 7212. Tin-coated stainless steel should be classified under 7219 or 7220.
Product Name
The standard name of the declared commodity, which should use the standardized name recognized by customs, such as "tin-coated carbon steel sheet".
⚠️ Incorrectly written as "tinplate" or "tinned iron", failing to use the standardized name.
Material
State the substrate material, such as non-alloy steel (carbon steel), and indicate the carbon content range.
⚠️ Only writing "steel" or "carbon steel", without specifying the specific composition of non-alloy steel.
Specifications and Dimensions
Declare thickness, width, length (if coil, indicate coil), and the width must be less than 600mm.
⚠️ Omitting width or thickness, making it impossible to determine whether it is classified under 7212.
Coating Type
Specify the coating as tin or tin-lead alloy, and indicate the coating thickness or tin coating weight.
⚠️ Vaguely writing "coating", without distinguishing tin, lead, chromium, etc.
State
Declare the form, such as coil, sheet, strip, and whether it has undergone further processing.
⚠️ Declaring coil as sheet, affecting classification.
Use
State the main use, such as food cans, electronic components, packaging materials, etc.
⚠️ Use description is too broad, such as "industrial use".
Brand or Manufacturer
Declare the brand name or manufacturer; if no brand, fill in "none".
⚠️ Confusing brand with manufacturer, or incomplete filling.
If width exceeds 600mm, it should be classified under 7210 rather than 7212.
If the coating is chromium or chromium oxide, it should be classified under 7210 or other subheadings of 7212.
Tin-coated stainless steel should be classified under 7219 or 7220.
🎯 Classification Logic
Core basis for classification: 1) The substrate is non-alloy steel; 2) Width is less than 600mm; 3) Surface is tin-plated or tin-lead alloy coated; 4) Not further processed. Meeting the above conditions classifies it under 7212.10. If width ≥600mm, classify under 7210.11 or 7210.12; if stainless steel, classify under 7219 or 7220. 7210 Tin-coated non-alloy steel flat-rolled products of a width ≥600mm: Different width; 7210 width ≥600mm, 7212 width <600mm. 7212.20 Electro-galvanized non-alloy steel narrow strip: Different coating; 7212.20 is galvanized, 7212.10 is tin-coated. 7212.30 Lead-coated non-alloy steel narrow strip: Different coating; 7212.30 is lead-coated, 7212.10 is tin or tin-lead coated. 7219 Stainless steel narrow strip: Different material; 7219 is stainless steel, 7212.10 is non-alloy steel. Is the substrate non-alloy steel? Is the width less than 600mm? Is the coating tin or tin-lead? Has it not undergone further processing? Is it combined with other materials?
Basis
Core basis for classification: 1) The substrate is non-alloy steel; 2) Width is less than 600mm; 3) Surface is tin-plated or tin-lead alloy coated; 4) Not further processed. Meeting the above conditions classifies it under 7212.10. If width ≥600mm, classify under 7210.11 or 7210.12; if stainless steel, classify under 7219 or 7220.
Confused Codes：
7210 - Tin-coated non-alloy steel flat-rolled products of a width ≥600mm
Different width; 7210 width ≥600mm, 7212 width <600mm.
Different coating; 7212.30 is lead-coated, 7212.10 is tin or tin-lead coated.
7219 - Stainless steel narrow strip
Different material; 7219 is stainless steel, 7212.10 is non-alloy steel.
Self-Check：
✓ Is the substrate non-alloy steel?
✓ Is the width less than 600mm?
✓ Is the coating tin or tin-lead?
✓ Has it not undergone further processing?
✓ Is it combined with other materials?
❓ FAQ
How to check the import tariff rate for 721210? You can check the GACC official website, China International Trade Single Window, or third-party query platforms by entering HS code 721210 and the country of origin to display the MFN rate, general rate, VAT rate, etc. Note that rates are subject to adjustment; the latest published rates shall prevail. What is the difference between 721210 and 721011? 721210 is tin-coated non-alloy steel narrow strip of a width <600mm, while 721011 is tin-coated non-alloy steel flat-rolled products of a width ≥600mm. When classifying, first check whether the width reaches 600mm. What are the most common errors when declaring tin-coated carbon steel sheet? Common errors include: inaccurate width declaration leading to incorrect classification under 7210; unclear coating type description; misreporting coil as sheet; failure to indicate non-alloy steel material. It is recommended to provide detailed specifications and material certificates. If tin-coated carbon steel sheet is further processed, such as stamped into can bodies, can it still be classified under 721210? No. 721210 only applies to flat-rolled products not further processed. If already stamped or formed, it should be classified under other headings, such as articles of Chapter 73. How to declare small pieces of tin-coated carbon steel sheet sold via cross-border e-commerce? Still declare according to material, specifications, coating, and other elements. If it meets the description of 721210, classify under that code. Note the difference between personal items and goods declaration; it is recommended to consult a customs broker. What are the regulatory conditions for 721210? Generally, import requires an automatic import license (if applicable), inbound goods customs clearance form, etc. Specific regulatory conditions vary by country of origin and trade mode; you can check the customs regulatory conditions code table. How to determine whether tin-coated carbon steel sheet is "non-alloy steel"? According to the HS definition, non-alloy steel refers to steel with a carbon content of ≤2.11% by weight and not containing other alloying elements exceeding specified limits. This can be confirmed through material certificates or assay reports. What is the export tax rebate rate for 721210? The export tax rebate rate needs to be checked in the latest export tax rebate rate database. Typically, the rebate rate for tin-coated steel strip may be 0 or a certain percentage, subject to the announcement by the tax authorities.
Q: How to check the import tariff rate for 721210?
A: You can check the GACC official website, China International Trade Single Window, or third-party query platforms by entering HS code 721210 and the country of origin to display the MFN rate, general rate, VAT rate, etc. Note that rates are subject to adjustment; the latest published rates shall prevail.
Q: What is the difference between 721210 and 721011?
A: 721210 is tin-coated non-alloy steel narrow strip of a width <600mm, while 721011 is tin-coated non-alloy steel flat-rolled products of a width ≥600mm. When classifying, first check whether the width reaches 600mm.
Q: What are the most common errors when declaring tin-coated carbon steel sheet?
A: Common errors include: inaccurate width declaration leading to incorrect classification under 7210; unclear coating type description; misreporting coil as sheet; failure to indicate non-alloy steel material. It is recommended to provide detailed specifications and material certificates.
Q: If tin-coated carbon steel sheet is further processed, such as stamped into can bodies, can it still be classified under 721210?
A: No. 721210 only applies to flat-rolled products not further processed. If already stamped or formed, it should be classified under other headings, such as articles of Chapter 73.
Q: How to declare small pieces of tin-coated carbon steel sheet sold via cross-border e-commerce?
A: Still declare according to material, specifications, coating, and other elements. If it meets the description of 721210, classify under that code. Note the difference between personal items and goods declaration; it is recommended to consult a customs broker.
Q: What are the regulatory conditions for 721210?
A: Generally, import requires an automatic import license (if applicable), inbound goods customs clearance form, etc. Specific regulatory conditions vary by country of origin and trade mode; you can check the customs regulatory conditions code table.
Q: How to determine whether tin-coated carbon steel sheet is "non-alloy steel"?
A: According to the HS definition, non-alloy steel refers to steel with a carbon content of ≤2.11% by weight and not containing other alloying elements exceeding specified limits. This can be confirmed through material certificates or assay reports.
Q: What is the export tax rebate rate for 721210?
A: The export tax rebate rate needs to be checked in the latest export tax rebate rate database. Typically, the rebate rate for tin-coated steel strip may be 0 or a certain percentage, subject to the announcement by the tax authorities.
⚠️ 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.