Using semantic HS lookup

Using semantic HS lookup

The calculator HS field accepts plain-English product descriptions. Type what the product is, in the words your commercial invoice uses, and semantic HS lookup returns three ranked HS code candidates with confidence scores and links to the governing chapter notes. Pick one, keep going.

The same lookup powers the standalone HTS code lookup page and the /v1/classify endpoint, so a candidate you accept in the calculator is byte-for-byte the same code the API would have returned.

How to use semantic HS lookup

1. Click into the HS field on the calculator.
2. Type a product description. Two to eight words works best. Example: nitrile disposable exam gloves.
3. Wait for the suggestions panel. It appears under the field with three candidates.
4. Read the confidence score on each candidate. Anything at 80 percent or higher is high-confidence.
5. Click the candidate you accept. The HS field fills in and the shipment form is unblocked.
6. Optional: click the chapter-note link on each candidate to read the governing GRI rule before committing.

If none of the three candidates fit, refine the description and try again. Adding a material, a form factor, or an end use usually reorders the results.

Confidence scores explained

The score is a similarity measure between your description and the corpus of HS text plus curated CBP CROSS ruling summaries. A score above 80 percent means the description closely matches known good classifications for that heading. A score in the 50 to 80 percent band means the code is plausible but you should verify against chapter notes before filing.

Never take a sub-50 score as authoritative. Refine the description, or open the standalone HTS code lookup for a keyword search.

When to open the full lookup

For complex classifications (Chapter 84 machinery, Chapter 85 electricals, textiles, foods, chemicals), the calculator's inline semantic lookup is a starting point. Open /hts-code-lookup for the full search interface with GRI-rule filtering, ruling links, and side-by-side comparison of candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the semantic lookup deterministic

Two calls with the same description return the same three candidates in the same order. The engine uses a versioned embedding index that is only updated on schedule, so results are stable within a release.

Where does the training data come from

HS heading text, WCO explanatory notes, national chapter notes, and CBP CROSS rulings. No customer data ever enters the lookup index.

Can I bias the lookup toward a specific chapter

Prefix the description with a chapter number in brackets. [85] lithium-ion battery cell biases toward Chapter 85 candidates. Useful when you know the chapter but not the heading.

Does this replace filing a binding ruling

No. Binding rulings are issued by the national customs authority (CBP for the US). Semantic lookup is a classification aid and is never binding on customs.