Chapter 85 covers electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles. This chapter has an extremely broad scope, ranging from household appliances to industrial electronic equipment, with the core characteristic being involvement in electrical energy conversion, electrical control, or signal processing. Note that this chapter does not include: mechanical products of Chapter 84 (such as pumps, fans), optical or measuring instruments of Chapter 90, or vehicle parts of Chapter 87 (however, electrical lighting and signaling devices for vehicles are still classified in this chapter). Heading 8512 covers: electrical lighting or signaling equipment (such as headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights), windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters for bicycles or motor vehicles. These devices must be dedicated for use on vehicles and be electrically operated. Note: non-electrical wipers (such as manual) are classified in Chapter 87; bulbs and lamps for vehicles are classified separately; defrosters that only utilize waste engine heat are not classified in this heading. Code 851240 is a six-digit subheading. The first 2 digits '85' indicate Chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment). Digits 3-4 '12' indicate heading 8512 (electrical lighting or signaling equipment, windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters for vehicles). Digits 5-6 '40' indicate subheading 851240, specifically 'windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters'. Note: under 8512 there are also 851210 (lighting or visual signaling equipment), 851220 (other lighting or visual signaling equipment), 851230 (sound signaling equipment), 851290 (parts). Therefore 851240 only covers wipers, defrosters, and demisters, and does not include lighting or sound signaling equipment. Vehicle wipers are classified under 851240 because they are electrical devices dedicated for use on motor vehicles, with the function of removing rain, snow, and fog from the windscreen, and are explicitly listed under heading 8512 as 'windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters'. They are not classified in Chapter 87 as vehicle parts because the Chapter 85 chapter notes and heading text have specifically provided for them; nor are they classified under 8501 (electric motors) or 8504 (electrical control), because wipers are complete devices rather than individual motors or controllers.

Product Name: The Chinese and foreign language names of the declared goods, which should accurately reflect the product attributes, such as 'vehicle wiper' or 'windscreen wiper' Use: Specify what type of vehicle it is dedicated for, such as 'motor vehicle windscreen cleaning', 'for automobiles', etc. Brand: Fill in the manufacturer or brand name, such as 'Bosch', 'Denso', etc. Model: Fill in the product model or part number to facilitate identification of specific specifications With or Without Motor: Indicate whether the wiper includes an electric motor; if it is a complete set of knocked-down parts, this must be noted Applicable Vehicle Model: Indicate the applicable vehicle type or specific vehicle series, such as 'Volkswagen Magotan', 'heavy-duty truck' Material: Materials of main components, such as metal wiper arm, rubber wiper blade, etc. Customs declaration example: Product Name: Vehicle wiper Use: Motor vehicle windscreen cleaning Brand: Bosch Model: 3397008002 With or Without Motor: Yes Applicable Vehicle Model: Volkswagen Magotan Material: Wiper arm stainless steel, wiper blade rubber Specifications: 12V Remarks: Complete set of knocked-down parts, including motor, linkage, wiper arm, wiper blade Incorrectly declaring the wiper motor separately as 8501, when the complete wiper should actually be classified under 851240 Ignoring the 'for vehicles' limitation, classifying non-vehicle wipers under 8509 or 8479 Confusing defrosters and demisters with wipers, but all three belong to 851240

Core classification basis: 1) The product must be electrically operated (not manual); 2) Dedicated for use on bicycles or motor vehicles; 3) Function is windscreen wiping, defrosting, or demisting. If it is a separate motor, classify under 8501; if it is vehicle lighting or signaling equipment, classify under 851210/851220/851230; if it is a non-electrical wiper, classify under 8708 (vehicle parts). Note Chapter 85 Note 2: Parts dedicated or mainly for use with a particular type of equipment, if themselves independent electrical devices, are still classified in this chapter. 851210 Lighting or visual signaling equipment for bicycles or motor vehicles: This code covers vehicle lamps, turn signals, brake lights, etc., while 851240 only covers wipers, defrosters, and demisters, with different functions. 851230 Sound signaling equipment for bicycles or motor vehicles: This code covers horns, buzzers, etc., while 851240 is for visual cleaning devices, with functions unrelated to signaling. 850110 Electric motors (output power ≤37.5W): A separately declared wiper motor is classified under 850110, but a complete wiper assembly is classified under 851240. 870829 Other parts and accessories for motor vehicles: Non-electrical wipers (such as manual) are classified under 870829, while electrical wipers are classified under 851240. 847989 Other machinery not elsewhere specified: Non-vehicle wipers (such as for building glass cleaning) may be classified under 847989, but vehicle-specific ones are classified under 851240. Is it electrically operated? Is it dedicated for use on bicycles or motor vehicles? Is the function wiping, defrosting, or demisting? Does it include a complete device rather than a separate motor? Are lighting or sound signaling equipment excluded?

Why are vehicle wipers classified under 851240 instead of 8708? Because 851240 explicitly lists 'windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters', and the Chapter 85 notes provide that electrical devices dedicated for use on vehicles are preferentially classified in this chapter. 8708 is a residual heading for vehicle parts, applicable only when no more specific heading exists. Under which code should a separately imported wiper motor be classified? A separate motor should be classified under 8501 (electric motors), with the specific subheading determined by power, type, etc. If the motor is assembled with wiper arms, blades, etc. into a complete wiper, it is classified under 851240. How are wipers for non-motor vehicles classified? Wipers for non-motor vehicles (such as for buildings, ships), if electrically operated, may be classified under 8479 (other machinery) or 8509 (household appliances), depending on the specific use and structure. Are defrosters and demisters also classified under 851240? Yes, the subheading text of 851240 explicitly includes 'windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters', all three being listed together. However, note that defrosters utilizing waste engine heat may be classified under 8708. How can I check the tariff rate for 851240? You can visit the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China or use the 'Customs Import and Export Tariff' to check. The rate may vary due to trade agreements, country of origin, and other factors; it is recommended to refer to the latest tariff. What is the most common error when declaring 851240? The most common error is splitting a complete wiper into motor and parts and declaring them separately, resulting in incorrect classification. The correct approach is to classify the complete device under 851240 and declare all component parts. What is the difference between 851240 and 851290? 851290 is the parts subheading under 8512, covering parts dedicated for lighting, signaling, wiper, and other devices. If what is imported is a wiper-specific part (such as wiper arm, blade), it should be classified under 851290; if it is a complete wiper, it is classified under 851240. What should be noted when selling vehicle wipers through cross-border e-commerce? HS codes must be accurately declared to avoid customs clearance delays caused by classification errors. Also note the certification requirements of the destination country for vehicle accessories (such as CE, DOT), and retain complete product descriptions and model information.