Natural cork — HTS 4501
Natural cork, raw or simply prepared; waste cork; crushed, granulated or ground cork
Chapter 45 › Heading 4501
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 4501 is a broad product category for natural cork in basic forms. It covers raw cork, cork that has only been simply prepared, cork waste, and cork that has been crushed, granulated, or ground. The heading is about the cork material and its level of processing—not finished cork products made into items such as stoppers, tiles, or other articles.
To select the specific 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the product’s physical form and description, then follow the subheadings under heading 4501. The distinctions commonly depend on whether the shipment is raw or simply prepared cork, waste cork, or crushed, granulated, or ground cork, along with any further material or type distinctions shown in the current tariff schedule. The complete product description, not a marketing name alone, should control the classification.
What to check
- Confirm that the merchandise is natural cork covered by heading 4501, rather than a manufactured cork article or a cork-containing composite product.
- Document the physical form: raw, simply prepared, waste, crushed, granulated, or ground.
- Review the current HTSUS subheadings and 8-digit descriptions under 4501, including any material or type distinctions.
- Compare the product’s processing, dimensions, composition, and intended use with the tariff wording and relevant classification notes.
- If the product is unusual, blended, heavily processed, or difficult to distinguish from another heading, ask a customs broker or request a formal classification ruling.
HTS heading 4501 summary
Natural cork is a 4-digit product category containing 1 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 4501.90 | Other |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4501.10.00.00 👉 | Natural cork, raw or simply prepared | Free | — | Free |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 4501?
Natural cork, raw or simply prepared; waste cork; crushed, granulated or ground cork. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.